March 8, 2023
My name is DJ Fernandez, I’m a 6th year Medical Biology PhD candidate in the Molecular Microbiology & Immunology department. I’m emailing today to remind you about the GSWOC-UAW town hall happening tomorrow, Thursday March 9th at 5 pm, in Taper Hall (THH) Room 201 and over Zoom. You can RSVP to the town hall here.
A few big things are happening during this town hall that you won’t want to miss. A panel of our fellow GSWs (graduate student workers) will run through next steps in detail, including the process for nominating & voting on a bargaining team and ratifying initial bargaining demands. Those of us in attendance will collectively discuss and decide on the size of and timeline for electing the bargaining team, and there will be plenty of time for questions and discussion about initial demands and what’s to come.
If you’re interested in running for the bargaining team or learning more about the bargaining process generally, please fill out this interest form form and one of your fellow graduate student workers will get in touch.
If you’re not able to make it to the town hall, there are plenty of upcoming opportunities to learn more and get involved. There are worker-led sessions on Contract Bargaining and Understanding the UC Contract all throughout March. RSVP for both of these trainings here! If you’d like to help schedule one of these trainings for your department or lab, either fill out this form or respond to this email, and one of your fellow grad student workers will follow up with you! In addition, the newly formed Working Conditions Research Committee has its second meeting on March 20th at 11 am — RSVP here or reply to this email if you want to learn more.
I’m looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday! Please bring friends and coworkers — let’s pack the room and have a great event.
In solidarity,
DJ Fernandez, Molecular Microbiology & Immunology