At our third bargaining session, we came prepared with concrete proposals for how we can work together to improve the living and working conditions for grad workers. Instead of bargaining in good faith to secure protections as soon as possible for international workers, fellows, and more, the MIT administration sidestepped our proposals on these urgent issues. They instead want to give themselves the ability to cut our healthcare coverage, and they want to gut our hard-won agency shop and grievance procedure to weaken our union. Come to the GMM tomorrow to learn how we can push back and win the protections we deserve. RSVP at mitgsu.fillout.com/gmm-rsvp.
Lauren Chua, President of @mitgsu and a graduate researcher at MIT, spoke with On the Line about the challenges researchers face today and the struggle to ensure scientific research is used for the benefit of humanity, not corporate profits.
On Monday, we had our second bargaining session with thr MIT administration, where we presented our proposals on academic just cause. MIT did not have any responses to our proposals on urgently needed rights and protections for fellows, international workers, and LGBTQ+ workers. Come to the GMM next Thursday, May 14 to learn more, and join the CAT to help organize for the fair contract we deserve!
Over 250 members of UE Local 256, the MIT Graduate Student Union, rallied on April 24 to kick off their first day of bargaining for their second contract. After a few leaders spoke, there was a performance from their own union band which energized the members for negotiations. The large contingent then marched with their bargaining committee to the location where they would be negotiating with MIT admin.
The members held the rally after their bosses delayed bargaining for several weeks. Local 256 President Lauren Chua said, “MIT should be meeting the moment and standing up for its workers, and the real issues faced by thousands of graduate workers across campus are worth taking seriously. We were ready to start bargaining several weeks ago but the MIT administration has been dragging its feet. They are sending us the message that they don’t care if we don’t get a raise in June, they don’t care if international grad workers don’t have adequate protections in this political climate. Will the administration continue stonewalling us in these uncertain times, or are they ready to negotiate in good faith?”
Over the last week leading up to May Day, UE members have participated in three mass calls with other organizations and unions across the country.
UE leaders on each of the mass calls emphasized the importance of union power and workers standing up for one another. They called on people to not work, not shop, and not attend school on May Day. They explained how connecting to other unions and organizations in the community is needed to expand the fight. UE members are leading the way and taking an exemplary role in organizing to make the world around them better for working people.
Read more about it using the link in our story.
Campus Chief Steward Daniel Shen speaks about the importance of our May Day action. Join us at the rally today at 3pm on Hockfield Court to demonstrate our collective power. /mayday
May Day is upon us! Join us to commemorate and continue the legacy of the labor movement tomorrow on Hockfield Court at 3pm! We'll march over to the citywide action at the Boston Common at around 4:15. RSVP at /mayday.
On the first day of bargaining for our new contract, we presented 7 proposals to the MIT administration, including strengthened protections for international workers. We also delivered a petition with over 1600 signatures calling for contract benefits to be extended to fellows. But we need to build up the pressure if we want MIT to give us the time we need to settle on these and other key issues, and the best way to start is by keeping our coworkers informed and organized. Find the full details on our bargaining tracker at /bargaining-tracker.
Hundreds of grad workers gathered in Hockfield court today to kick off bargaining with the MIT administration for our second contract. Let's keep it up to win the protections and benefits we deserve!
Members of UE Local 256, the MIT Graduate Student Union, organized a candidate forum on Monday, April 6. Candidates for both federal and state offices came to answer questions from members on key issues affecting their working and living conditions, from immigration to science funding.
“As we fight for fairness and security in the workplace, we also engage in independent political action to advance the interests of working people everywhere,” said Local 256 Recording Secretary Anirudh Adavi.
Thirty years ago, UE organized its first graduate worker local at the University of Iowa. Since then, UE has negotiated contracts at 11 universities and has graduate worker members at 12 chartered locals.
On April 16, 1996, graduate research and teaching assistants at the University of Iowa (UI) voted to certify UE as their collective bargaining agent. This was a major victory for labor organizing in Iowa, which has been a right to work state since 1947, and marked the beginning of graduate worker organizing at UE.
The graduate workers at universities across the country have similar issues to all workers: their wages are not enough to live on and they need a meaningful grievance procedure, adequate health and safety protections, and protections against discrimination and harassment. All of them need a union, and over the last 30 years, many have chosen to join UE.
Read the UE NEWS article written by Anne Moore, Local 896-COGS, Jack Rubien, Local 256 (MIT-GSU), and UE Digital Organizer Samantha Cooney using the link in our story.
UE Local 256 President Lauren Chua will be speaking alongside other organizers on Monday for No War, No ICE, Free Palestine: May Day Mass Call to learn how to incorporate anti-war demands into your May Day plans.
Register now (also linked in our story): https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_sXJzZtPXQMauh1wZWlm5yQ
