Today, we had our fifth bargaining session with UMass Chan. We are excited to report that we have reached an agreement with strong protections for student workers on Academic Freedom. UMass Chan also returned counterproposals on Workload and Grievance and Arbitration. We brought counterproposals on Prayer Space and Personnel Records. You can find all of the proposals on our bargaining tracker here (be sure to click the Student Worker Tab at the bottom).
We also asked several questions on UMass Chan’s counterproposal on Recognition. A supermajority of Student Workers signed cards authorizing our Union, and now UMass Chan has proposed a definition of “research” that could eliminate many student workers from the unit. They have also proposed excluding all Student Workers on external fellowships specifically awarded to student workers (such as NIH T- and F- grants), training grants, as well as student workers doing work that benefits their dissertation research. The University’s position is that student workers on these fellowships only benefit UMass Chan academically, and that the work we do while on these fellowships does not provide a service or professional benefit to the school The vast majority of student worker contracts, including all UMass contracts, include student workers on fellowships. UMass Chan’s position suggests that the administration does not understand the nature of our work. Student Workers at UMass Chan will not accept arbitrary limitations that would exclude many of us from the benefits and protections of our union.
We will not stop fighting for a strong and fair contract for all Student Workers. To show UMass Chan we mean business, we need support from our members. Show some support either by attending a focus group meeting (where we discuss key issues) and/or an organizing committee meeting (where we plan union events); both are accessible in-person or via Zoom. Additionally, the bargaining sessions are open to all student workers. For the next open bargaining meeting, look for a future RSVP email coming out soon.
In solidarity,
Kathleen Desevin, Graduate Student, Biochemistry & Molecular Biotechnology
Clint McDaniel, Graduate Student, Biochemistry & Molecular Biotechnology
Akshay Alaghatta, Graduate Student, Medicine
Milky Abajorga, Graduate Student, Molecular Medicine
Will Cruz, Graduate Student, RNA Therapeutics
CORE-UAW Student Worker Bargaining Committee