[Physics-grads-open] COLA Bargaining, this Thursday @ 1pm

[Ming-Feng Ho]

Hey everyone,

I hope the start of the quarter is going well!! I wanted to pass along a
brief update on bargaining for our new TA contract and encourage you to
attend the next bargaining session this Thursday 1-5pm, when we’ll be
passing really important proposals on COLA (cost of living adjustment),
wages, rent burden, and housing. You can get the zoom link by RSVPing here
<https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdhUllw7ujomTsPANMPYSgqt1RyAREpesAGKCbt64na1w1bRw/viewform?usp=sf_link>
.

A majority of our coworkers struggle to make ends meet on our meager wages,
and this has only gotten worse with the rapid rise in prices over the last
few months. Rather than try to address the rent burden crisis we are
experiencing, UC is more interested in curbing our rights. We’ve been
bargaining since March 2nd and here’s what UC has been up to so far:


   -

   Wasting public resources by refusing to bargain jointly with academic
   workers: Academic workers are demanding
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MM6d5IG93rbXH6t_E4kW0pdvRfjqSbgX/view?usp=sharing>
   that UC bargain with all four of our units at a coordinated bargaining
   table over shared issues such bullying and transit. UC has refused
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1JudeD3JMq45N1PKu_n_ZI2gXbCBBonkT/view?usp=sharing>,
   and insists on wasting valuable public resources by bargaining separately
   with each workforce.


   -

   Delaying justice for survivors: UC has proposed
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KDPa_SBn1c2fISTQUIdc2qHl4i4fPeir/view>
   indefinitely delaying harassment and discrimination grievances, forcing
   survivors to wait until the conclusion of Title IX’s interminable process
   <https://www.dailycal.org/2018/03/01/uc-berkeley-mishandled-eight-title-ix-cases-federal-investigators-say/>
   before proceeding with the union’s independent grievance process.
   -

   Weakening protections against overwork: UC has proposed
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Kli9M97fvUQxTKIpPITHufIeTdXWhMY2/view>
   weakening ASEs’ workload rights by delaying resolution timelines and making
   it harder for workers to recover backpay for overwork.
   -

   Union Busting: UC has proposed
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uN0wLbLXmFnZKn3QggLcLzPfuu0IwHwJ/view>
   eliminating the right of ASEs to choose to join their union as part of
   their new hire paperwork.


We’ve proposed a number of bold proposals
<https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1DKxtUSiKsNNtn8EFWkLgz6ZCXJ-slnh9stfNhGWS_hY/edit#gid=0>to
improve our working conditions and make UC more accessible, including:

   -

   Fully-funded childcare
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1n6S4CfXG0i2zGHOc_wpqssHHDWkepfGT/view>
   -

   Expanding rights of ASEs to seek justice when experiencing harassment,
   discrimination
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1t8rIcXbrddRHf6DubqETsXwlVN68rrVN/view>,
   and/or bullying
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1H9cv51oLpJU0IYUNEDyUU6GHWkwxdN65/view>
   -

   Remission of all mandatory fees including Non-Residential Supplemental
   Tuition
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1LAS0-YF1j0WA_l41qlghhInkIcw4mec0/view>
   -

   Improving processes and rights
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1_FKPugcLv1mxwBHTGIFafm0mrAgCBntS/view>
   to meet access needs for ASEs with disabilities
   -

   Improving ASEs’ union rights, including guaranteed department union
   orientations
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CBjWDylrbrSjuQDtmgxZRErI_up63eaa/view>
   and maintaining the right of ASEs to join their union as part of new
   hire paperwork
   <https://drive.google.com/file/d/1gtq84JAziu5nsU0D7z5INwFm5KAlEFON/view>.


This Thursday, we’ll be presenting our proposal to pay all TAs, tutors, and
readers enough to live where we work. UC will not agree to our demands out
of the goodness of their hearts, so come to bargaining and show UC we are
ready to fight!

All best,
Ming-Feng Ho
Physics and Astronomy, UCR
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