UAW Strike Set for April 2 and 3

Please see the message linked below from our sisters and brothers in the Graduate Instructors Union (UAW). It provides useful information for you and your students about the strike planned next week for Wednesday, April 2 (UCSC) and Thursday, April 3. We remind you that while you may not withhold your labor in sympathy with the UAW and its members, you may find creative and active ways to express your support for our colleagues in the UAW and we strongly encourage you to do so.  

The message from UAW  (posted on the ucaft.org) provides a detailed explanation of the stonewalling UAW is experiencing at the bargaining table, and also instances of illegal intimidation by UC administrators.

Please complete this brief poll  (also below) to let us know how you plan to support UAW during the strike next week.  As we have seen with the recent AFSCME strikes, this type of direct action can lead to big gains at the bargaining table.    Also, UAW is attempting to bargain over class size, which is directly related to our interests with workload and quality of instruction.

Finally, you can show your support for graduate student instructors, readers and graders by delivering a very brief class rap on the first day of classes after spring break.  Here are the key points:

• UAW is the union of graduate student instructors (T.A.s), readers and graders.  They are going on strike this week because the university is refusing to negotiate with them about their workload. 
• UAW is attempting to negotiate controls on class sizes in order to reduce their workload, and to help ensure high quality educational experience for undergraduates.
• The university has also illegally retaliated against and attempted to intimidate UAW members for participating in a solidarity strike with another campus union, AFSCME, earlier this year.
• I believe it is important for undergraduate students to understand these issues because graduate student workload directly affects the quality of your education.
• I want you to know that I will not penalize students who choose not to cross the picket lines on Thursday.  If you choose not to come to class, there will be no negative consequences for you.