Bargaining Update # 5: ASEs stand strong on immigration, discrimination & workplace abuse

During yesterday’s bargaining session, ASEs responded to management’s most recent proposals on immigration, discrimination and workplace abuse. ASEs also reached tentative agreements with management on six contract articles that will safeguard rights that union members have won in previous negotiations. You can view all proposals and get more info at the ASE Bargaining Center here.

ASE counter-proposals on immigration, discrimination and workplace abuse protections

After gathering thousands of international worker petition signatures and meetings with college deans on every campus about immigration protections, ASEs saw progress from management at our prior bargaining session last month—but not enough to accept their proposed language. With yesterday’s counterproposal, ASEs stuck to the core demands that members have been organizing around for months while reframing those demands to address some of management’s concerns. This proposal includes legal support for workers facing visa cancellations, expanded leaves for visa appointments, and job security for workers who have lost work authorization.

In contrast to the positive direction on immigration, last month management also made proposals on discrimination, harassment and abusive conduct that would erase decades of hard-fought victories: by taking away ASEs’ ability to hold management accountable on these issues, UC administration’s proposals would make ASEs far more likely to face workplace abuse and have no real way to remedy it. Today ASEs responded to management with proposals that would: 

• maintain and expand the definition of abusive conduct in our contract;

• protect ASEs right to engage in the grievance process without arbitrary delays;

• and require UC administration to implement interim measures that keep ASEs safe while the grievance process is ongoing.

As the Trump administration seeks to dismantle Title IX and anti-discrimination protections at universities, UC management has a choice to make: they can stand with workers, or they can stand with Trump. As with the immigration proposal, workers have the power to determine how far they move toward a just position.

LBL workers take immigration message to the Director of the Lab

Last Thursday, a delegation of UAW 4811 LBL academic workers marched to the office of Lab Director Mike Witherell to discuss the demands in the International Workers’ Rights Petition that nearly 6000 workers across the state have signed onto. While Director Witherell refused to meet, members were able to speak with the Director’s Chief of Staff Margaret Dick and made clear that, until Director Witherell advocates for these demands at the UC Office of the President, they will continue to ramp up the pressure. Check out the video from the action below.

Please help increase the pressure on management on this critical issue statewide by signing the petition now. Adding your name will not duplicate your membership.

As ASEs have seen with our immigration proposal, when we exercise our collective power, we make progress. But winning everything ASEs deserve will require every single one of us to take collective action. Please join the fight now by clicking on the button below to sign up for the ASE Contract Action Team (CAT). On Thursday, September 11 at 6PM, there will be a Bargaining Debrief meeting over Zoom for all members. Register for the meeting here for more updates and discussion on bargaining so far.