tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12301910113947917652024-03-13T03:00:11.201-07:00UW Student/Worker Coalitionanti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.comBlogger87125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-64784035362303007392010-10-05T00:55:00.000-07:002010-10-05T00:55:00.556-07:00Picket Against Custodian Abuse and Speak Out Against Cuts to Education<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwpuxtl-sRP86YqnjEeaYLOVPUBxMNgbuCiHBJ81ZGGqMlB07e2B-4uIu7686qK6nMs51r56eXo06NYKvL2XWOHCacOoQaAOvRlKN-si49WTcIJASIcKeMxnEkV13Wtrk0eBxoD0k2_kc/s1600/Oct+7th+IWSJ+flyer+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZwpuxtl-sRP86YqnjEeaYLOVPUBxMNgbuCiHBJ81ZGGqMlB07e2B-4uIu7686qK6nMs51r56eXo06NYKvL2XWOHCacOoQaAOvRlKN-si49WTcIJASIcKeMxnEkV13Wtrk0eBxoD0k2_kc/s320/Oct+7th+IWSJ+flyer+.jpg" width="247" /></a></div><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;">Rank and File UW workers, International Workers and Students for Justice (IWSJ), and friends say...</span><b><span style="color: black;"><br />
<br />
</span></b><span style="color: red; font-size: 24pt;">Picket Manager Yang Sook Choe and the Policies of Custodial Services</span><span style="color: red;"><br />
</span>Join rank and file custodians as they stand up against the latest attacks by management.<br />
<br />
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_0" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Thursday, Oct. 7th, 2010<br />
1:15pm</span>, UW Seattle Campus, <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_1" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Red Square</span><br />
<br />
For More Info, email <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_2" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">IWSJ.Seattle@gmail.com</span><br />
<a href="http://iwsjseattle.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-unpaid-overtime-no-discrimination.htm" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_3">http://iwsjseattle.blogspot.com/2010/10/no-unpaid-overtime-no-discrimination.htm</span></a><br />
<br />
Following this picket, as part of the <br />
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_4" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">National Day</span> to Defend Education, the Student Worker Coalition is holding a...<br />
<span style="font-size: 24pt;"> <span style="color: red;">Speak Out/Open-Mic Against the Elite’s Responses to the <br />
Economic Crisis </span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_5" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">Thursday, Oct. 7th, 2010<br />
3:30pm</span>, UW Seattle Campus <br />
Red Square in front of Gerberding Hall<br />
<span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_6" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com</span><br />
<a href="" rel="nofollow">nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com</a><br />
<br />
This will be followed by an organizing meeting with the UW Student Worker Coalition. <span></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><br />
<br />
Background to Custodian Picket:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">1) <b>NO Unpaid Overtime</b></span><br />
Custodial Manager, Yang Sook Choe, has recently started requiring that custodians in her area stay at their work stations longer, causing them to not be able to clock out until after their shift is over. This has resulted in forced, unpaid overtime.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 18pt;">2) <b>NO Discrimination </b></span><br />
Arriving at work between <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_7" style="border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">4:30</span> and <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_8" style="background: none repeat scroll 0% 0% transparent; border-bottom: 2px dotted rgb(54, 99, 136); cursor: pointer;">5am</span>, many custodians have long used <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_9">coffee makers</span> and microwaves to make coffee and heat up food during breaks. All of sudden, manager <span class="yshortcuts" id="lw_1286262867_10">Choe</span> has mandated that the custodians end their use of these of appliances. This is clearly a case of discrimination against the lowest paid, primarily immigrant custodial workforce because other staff and faculty at UW have free access to these appliances. <br />
<br />
<b><span style="font-size: 18pt;">3) NO Team Cleaning and Retaliation</span></b><br />
After custodians in her area spoke out about the overtime and denial of appliance usage, manager Choe retaliated by instituting Team Cleaning, the much-despised form of speed-up that results in injury and exhaustion. </div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-30390740413688578862010-10-05T00:50:00.000-07:002010-10-05T00:50:20.463-07:00OCT. 7th - National Day of Action to Defend Education - Speak Out!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Oct. 7th, 2010 is the National Day of Action to Defend Education!</span></div><b><i><br />
</i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">Join us for Speak Out/Open-Mic</span></i></b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speak Out Against the Elite's Responses to the "Economic Crisis"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
3:30PM Thursday October 7th, 2010<br />
In front of Gerberding Hall in Red Square at UW Seattle Campus</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Followed by an Organizational Meeting of the UW Student/Worker Coalition</div><div style="text-align: center;">uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com<br />
</div><br />
<ul><li>WE REJECT THE RHETORIC OF THE "ECONOMIC CRISIS" THAT CLAIMS CUTS TO EDUCATION AND SOCIAL SPENDING IN GENERAL ARE A NECESSARY PART OF OUR REALITY. HERE’S WHY:</li>
</ul><ul><li>The UW Student/Worker Coalition has organized in response to the drastic budget cuts at UW and the accompanying increased hardships that they bring to on-campus workers and students. We had two walkouts last spring, one of which was the largest demonstration on campus in years.</li>
</ul><ul><li>The problem of budget cuts at UW is part of a much larger problem that is shared by the majority of the world – folks who are denied access to a "quality" education and then are told that their only option is to submit themselves to the will of those with capital by working as so-called "unskilled" labor. As it stands there exists only a very small fraction of jobs that guarantee that workers have enough to support themselves and those that they are responsible for supporting.</li>
</ul><ul><li>As working class youth, we have been told we need to pursue higher education to progress to a position where we can demand more pay for our "higher-skilled" labor and thus better provide for ourselves and our families.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li> Because of decades of struggles, poor folks, people of color, LGBT folks, and folks with disabilities have won marginal access to higher education.</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>Now the legislators and Regents are using the "economic crisis", which was created by the wealthy who exploit our communities, as an excuse to take away even this marginal access, turning UW into an even more elitist institution while also cutting off access to other "public" universities, "community" colleges and even public primary and secondary schools.</li>
</ul><ul><li>WE WANT A WORLD IN WHICH EDUCATION SERVES THE MUTUAL BENEFIT OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND THE COMMUNITY AS A WHOLE. WE DENOUNCE THE ELITIST MODEL OF EDUCATION AS IT EXISTS TODAY WHICH IS ONLY SERVING TO CONTINUALLY RECREATE THE CLASS, RACE, AND GENDER OPPRESION.</li>
</ul><ul><li>WE NEED A MOVEMENT COMPOSED OF EVERYONE WHO SEEKS A MORE JUST WORLD AND WHO ALSO BELIEVE EDUCATION OUGHT TO SERVE TO CREATE THAT WORLD, NOT PREVENT IT FROM EXISTING</li>
</ul>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-67257691202120865472010-10-05T00:37:00.000-07:002010-10-05T00:37:42.708-07:00Custodian Demand Letter concerning Manager Yang Sook Choe's Policies<h3 class="post-title entry-title"> <a href="http://iwsjseattle.blogspot.com/2008/10/demand-letter-concerning-yang-sook.html">Demand letter concerning Yang Sook Choe's policies</a> </h3><div class="post-header"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Dear Gene Woodard, Charles Kennedy, Sattia Sear, Scott Spencer, and Human Resources, </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"> We are writing this letter on behalf of custodians who have a concern with problems going on in our department. The main problem in the area we work is one of the mangers Yang Sook has been changing some of the rules unfairly. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> For about 18 years we have had 15 minutes to go from our work site to where we clock out. We start 15 minutes before 5 AM.<span> </span>When we're trying to go home we are supposed to leave our buildings early enough to get to the clock station by 1:15 to punch out then. Now Yang Sook wants everyone in her two areas to stay in the buildings where we work until 1:20. There is a distance of up to 20 minutes of a walk to get to the clock station. The clock station is in South Campus. Some people work in upper campus, some work in Health Sciences. It takes a long time to get to the clock station. So Yang Sook is basically expecting us to work between 5 and 25 minutes overtime each day. We raised this with her and asked if we would be paid overtime for it. Yang Sook said we will not be paid overtime and she said we should just walk fast to make it to the clock station in time to punch out. We told her some people walk slower and won't get there in time. Yang Sook said those are excuses, and people should be able to get there on time. But some people have disabilities or injuries related to the overwork we regularly experience and that can make it difficult for us to jog to go clock out. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> When the university changed people to dayshift they set up carpools because the parking situation is difficult during the day. With Yang Sook's changes though, everyone in a carpool will be ready to leave at a different time depending on how far we have to walk to clock out. Some people (who aren’t in Yang Sook’s 2 areas) will get out at 1:15 and people in Yang Sook’s areas will get out between 1:30 and 1:40. It will create a hostile environment for people and will cause fights because some people will be angry at others for having to wait for them, especially if they have to travel long distances to get home. We suspect managers are trying to divide and conquer us by creating this kind of hostile environment. Many of us have already given up our shift differential and our ability to drive our own cars because we were day-shifted and now we need to deal with this. This is not fair.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> The second change is Yang Sook put up a set of rules saying we can't use any electricity for personal reasons. Those are rules from 15-18 years ago but we have had 3 contracts where rules have changed. She said no one can make coffee in the closets and no one can heat food. We have no way to heat our food or make coffee or tea. We need to go to the cafeteria to buy these things and it's too expensive. When we start work at 4:45 AM coffee is important. Why do professors and students get to heat up their own food and drink but we don't? Yang Sook has not been flexible and lots of us are getting mad. This is discrimination against employees of the university. Why do you treat us this way when we have been serving the university so well? If you didn't have us working as custodians you wouldn't have a functioning university so it is unfair for you treat us this way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> We are letting you know about this in the hope that you will make Yang Sook remove these new rules. It is a serious matter and we expect you to change the situation. We are trying to deal with this inside the University by speaking with you first. However, if you do not do something about it in one week, we will have no choice but to share this information with the public and we will let the public know how UW is discriminating against its employees, especially its lowest paid employees who are mostly immigrants and people of color. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sincerely,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">International Workers and Students for Justice and our friends</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20pt;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">Sept 28th, 2010</span></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-3403184763865762652010-06-16T23:49:00.000-07:002010-06-16T23:49:15.118-07:00Custodians Continue Fight to Save SwingshiftBelow is some media coverage of a rally last week that custodians held to fight the forced move from swingshift to dayshift.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/4351/">http://www.realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives/4351/ </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1662577/KPLU.Local.News/UW.Janitors.Rally.to.Save.Swing.Shift">http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1662577/KPLU.Local.News/UW.Janitors.Rally.to.Save.Swing.Shift</a>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-37277300085071565302010-06-06T13:49:00.000-07:002010-06-06T13:52:37.675-07:00Next Meeting - Thurs, July 29th, 6pm, Smith Hall 405We're going to be taking a break for part of the summer. We will have a mid-summer check in meeting on Thursday, July 29th at 6pm in Smith Hall room 405. The next meeting after that will be a strategizing/planning session before school starts back up in the fall. That meeting will be Thursday, Sept. 9th, at 6pm in Smith Hall 405.anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-13613000847907422332010-05-09T02:11:00.000-07:002010-05-09T02:11:33.745-07:00Next Meeting - Thurs, 5/13 - 6pm, Smith Hall 405FYI: Location change for UWSWC meeting. The weekly meetings will now be on Thursdays at 6pm in Smith Hall room 405... until further notice.anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-12352606524354752932010-05-03T23:22:00.000-07:002010-05-03T23:22:18.877-07:00General Assembly - Tues 5/4 - 5:30 - Suzzallo CafeFollowing the campus strike on May 3rd, For a Democratic University and the UW Student Worker Coalition are calling a general assembly that is open to all who would like to get involved in organizing the continuing fight against the privatization of our school. Police are not welcome (plainclothes or in uniform). The general assembly is Tuesday, May 4th at 5:30 in Suzzallo Cafe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVVh8wRJ5Ud6co_cRYm4ssYXd5ohMmGSh1uAGDPUNnJ4bBBuafvx-gfsncOeS6USpk8GEyQ9M7aiwL7wO2U4YOKK-trAsjXqkpX2jFH4CBPjRWBZd3P16f3HtXQIr4Oe_hrmI4fFkopB/s1600/May+3rd+Strike+and+GA+flyer+-+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHjVVh8wRJ5Ud6co_cRYm4ssYXd5ohMmGSh1uAGDPUNnJ4bBBuafvx-gfsncOeS6USpk8GEyQ9M7aiwL7wO2U4YOKK-trAsjXqkpX2jFH4CBPjRWBZd3P16f3HtXQIr4Oe_hrmI4fFkopB/s320/May+3rd+Strike+and+GA+flyer+-+front.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGeVs3d0Ml-0jiuA3QMg49oryLz2o1ca1CTtAoQ6TSLJbSGZKqq5CikM7tuuSs4mxAZo_2nnVBt7IAFiMjgaCP96o-EU3IepQ6N3eGibLUkOG5Jo0JLBsKEFs80YwNlrnVukOxQkRHtaI/s1600/May+3rd+Strike+and+GA+flyer+-+back.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxGeVs3d0Ml-0jiuA3QMg49oryLz2o1ca1CTtAoQ6TSLJbSGZKqq5CikM7tuuSs4mxAZo_2nnVBt7IAFiMjgaCP96o-EU3IepQ6N3eGibLUkOG5Jo0JLBsKEFs80YwNlrnVukOxQkRHtaI/s320/May+3rd+Strike+and+GA+flyer+-+back.jpg" /></a></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-34026040139265107272010-04-28T18:18:00.000-07:002010-04-28T22:19:05.312-07:00Open Letter to WorkersOn Tuesday, April 20th, Lou Pisano, the head of the UW bargaining team, wrote an e-mail to "leaders"--ie management, department chairs, deans, etc, encouraging them to terminate workers who take un-approved vacation time, and in other ways encouraging retaliation against workers who may strike May 3rd. The letter contained mis-information, and UW SWC responded. See the letter below. After the jump, you can see his e-mail as well.<br />
<br />
------<br />
April 28th 2010<br />
To all Workers and Students of the University of Washington,<br />
<br />
On May 3rd, after over a year of struggles against privatization, students, workers and concerned members of the community will be striking against the budget cuts, tuition increases, and attacks to the standard of living of workers at the university. This action is organized by the Student Worker Coalition, a diverse group of undergrads and graduate students, teachers and research assistants, custodians, skilled trades workers and professional staff, alumni and members of the community that have united to act in solidarity for affordable, quality education and workers rights on campus. The May 3rd Campus Strike is a struggle not only for student demands but also for worker demands such as no layoffs, no extra work, no cuts to the custodian swingshift, no outsourcing/union busting, and no management harassment/ retaliation. <br />
<br />
We know workers face many challenges which make it difficult to participate in this movement. For example, the UW Police Department recently attempted to spy on our strike committee meeting by sending an undercover cop posing as a union supporter. We exposed her and in the media controversy that followed, UW spokesman Norm Arkans claimed that the UW administration is against the police spying on student groups. However, he mentioned nothing about workers. The Strike Committee is also a worker organization and the UWPD’s actions are a violation of workers’ right to organize. It is only the most recent example of a pattern of UWPD harassment of workers including surveillance during custodian break time organizing meetings and at clock stations as well as the arrest of two women of color journalists who were interviewing custodians about poor working conditions in Health Sciences. Despite this harassment, the movement against the privatization of the university--both as a place to work, and a place to learn-- has built serious momentum. <br />
<br />
On April 21, 2010, Lou Pisano, Assistant Vice President of Labor Relations at UW, wrote an email addressed to "leaders" (that is, managers), stating that "employees who decide to participate [in the Campus Strike] by taking an unapproved, unscheduled absence from work may be subject to discipline...up to and including the termination of employment from the University."<br />
<br />
<br />
Pisano's email is both misleading and desperate. Contrary to his claim, there is no clear provision in state law forbidding public workers to strike----nor is there a provision expressly allowing it. Washington State law is ambiguous with regard to whether public employees have a legal right to strike. Public employees DO often strike ---and succeed. Teachers and Metro drivers have gone on strike, and WFSE, SEIU, and academic student employees on campus all went on strike in 2001.<br />
<br />
Further, contrary to Pisano’s claims, any individual employee who joins the strike on May 3 doesn't violate the no-strike clause in the union contracts, since this clause refers to the unions themselves calling a strike. It is also important to recognize that the State of Washington has repeatedly violated state workers’ contracts by denying cost of living increases and threatening furloughs and health care cuts. Why do workers have to follow the contract but management doesn’t? <br />
<br />
Pisano’s letter shows that UW administrators are scared of the powerful student-worker solidarity that has been built the past year. UW administrators know its potential to unite similarly affected sectors of campus against privatization, and Pisano’s letter is an example of how they are trying to break up these coalitions. <br />
<br />
On May 3, the UW campus will be striking together. Students will be setting up picket lines at the main campus entrance at 15th and 40th, and we will set up lines at other entrances if we have enough people. We may also have roving picket lines at various worksites throughout campus. UAW local 4121 may officially strike or rank-and-file UAW members may unofficially walk out to protest the layoffs of hundreds of TAs and the large class sizes that will result. WFSE local 1488 and SEIU local 925 both passed resolutions supporting the UAW and reminding their members of their right not to cross the picket lines of another union or employee organization for safety reasons. <br />
<br />
We know from talking with many workers in a variety of sectors that you would like to join us on the picket lines May 3rd. We know that you recognize that no fight can be won alone--that solidarity among all workers is necessary for the movement to grow and victories to be won. We are humbled by your willingness to not cross the picket lines as long as students and workers are striking, and we pledge that we will support you with follow up protests if management threatens to fire you for making this choice. <br />
<br />
And when the time comes for you to strike and fight for your right for a fair contract, or safe working conditions, or a wage that will support your children’s' educations and healthy upbringings, you can count on our support. <br />
<br />
Join the May 3 strike, for wages, job security, benefits, and accessibility to higher education.<br />
<br />
In Solidarity,<br />
<br />
UW Student Worker Coalition<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
From: uwddc-bounces@mailman2.u.washington.edu [mailto:uwddc-bounces@mailman2.u.washington.edu] On Behalf Of LOUIS PISANO<br />
Sent: Tuesday, April 20, 2010 3:19 PM<br />
To: 'uwddc@u.washington.edu'<br />
Subject: [UW Administration] Proposed Student Strike - May 3, 2010<br />
<br />
Dear Leaders,<br />
<br />
The University has become aware that several groups have been notifying the campus community of a proposed student strike on May 3, in which some employees may choose to participate and show their support.<br />
<br />
Employees are, of course, free to express themselves in a variety of ways with regard to such issues. Participating in demonstrations, rallies, or other expressive activities before or after work hours or during their lunch period or break period is permitted. However, employees who decide to participate by taking an unapproved, unscheduled absence from work may be subject to discipline.<br />
<br />
You should also know that public employees (which include employees of University Medical Center and Harborview Medical Center, and all other University employees) do not have the right to strike under their collective bargaining agreement and state law. Any employee who participates in an unlawful work stoppage may be subject to disciplinary action up to and including the termination of employment from the University.<br />
<br />
Please contact your Human Resources consultant if you observe any unusual activities in the workplace, if you have any questions or concerns related to proposed labor actions, or before you proceed with any disciplinary action.<br />
<br />
Sincerely,<br />
Lou Pisano<br />
<br />
<br />
Lou Pisano<br />
Assistant Vice President of Labor Relations<br />
Office of Human Resources, Box 354555<br />
1100 NE Campus Parkway, Room 306<br />
Seattle, WA 98105<br />
206-616-0885 fax: 206-616-1081<br />
<br />
_________________________________________anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-33934245485419016682010-04-27T11:39:00.000-07:002010-04-29T17:00:28.013-07:00Letters of Support Pour in!Hi All,<br />
The UW Student Worker Coalition and Strikers have received numerous letters of Support!! Many many thanks to all those who wrote in.<br />
<br />
Click on the links below to see each one!<br />
<br />
NEW! <a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2005/04/letter-of-support-from-cesare-casarino.html">Letter from Cesare Casarin</a>o, Faculty of Cultural Studies and Comparative Literature, University of Minnesota<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1913039175"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2005/04/letter-from-silvia-federici.html">Letter from Silvia Federici</a>, Faculty Emerita, HOFSTRA University, member of Midnight Notes collective and Edu-Factory Collective<br />
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<a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-from-george-caffentzis.html">Letter from George Caffentzis</a>, Faculty at University of Southern Maine, member Midnight Notes Collective and Edu-Factory Collective<br />
<a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_193725563"><br />
</a><br />
<a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2005/04/letter-from-jeff-williams.html">Letter from Jeffrey J. Williams</a>, Professor of English and of Literary and Cultural Studies, Carnegie Mellon University, Editor, the minnesota review<br />
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<a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2005/04/letter-from-therese-quinn.html">Letter from Therese Quinn</a>, Associate Professor of Art Education, School of the Art Institute of Chicago<br />
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<a href="http://forademocraticuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/04/letter-of-support-from-rank-and-file-in.html">Letter from Academic Workers for A Democratic Union</a> from California, UAW membersanti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-79055526738602585492010-04-22T10:01:00.001-07:002010-04-28T13:47:52.929-07:00Follow-Up Press Release regarding Police<div style="margin: 0in;"><span class="il"><b><span style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1641830/KPLU.Local.News/University.of.Washington.Spies.on.Students">KPLU !</a><br />
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<span class="il"><b><span style="color: black;">PRESS RELEASE</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black;">- For Immediate <span class="il">Release</span> </span></b></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">April 22, 2010<br />
</span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="mailto:UWstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com">UWstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">Nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com</span></div><b><span style="color: black;">Police Infiltration of Student Group Just the Latest in Ongoing Harassment by the UWPD<o:p></o:p></span></b><br />
<span style="color: black;">On April 8, plainclothes UW police officer Tanesha Van Leuven infiltrated and participated in a student organization meeting to plan a campus strike on May 3. The action will include all-day picket lines beginning at 8am at 15th & 40th, and an 11am picnic with picketers. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">In an interview with KIRO, UW Police Commander Jerome Solomon openly admitted the infiltration, stating, "We saw that they were having an open meeting and we sent an officer in plain clothes." Solomon confirmed that the plainclothes officer did not identify herself as law enforcement. The Student Worker Coalition welcomes the administration's recognition that the UW Police Department's conduct was unacceptable. Associate Vice President Norm Arkans correctly notes, "When something like this happens, it erodes trust among elements in our community." <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">The administration is incorrect, however, to suggest that the incident represents an isolated "error in judgment." Police intimidation of student and worker activists occurs routinely on campus. Although the administration may oppose police intimidation on paper, the University has condoned the UWPD's ongoing and systematic harassment of campus activists, despite longstanding and well-publicized efforts by ourselves and other activists to hold campus police accountable to the university community. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Coalition members have made it clear to the University administration that police intimidation was unacceptable since the UWPD first began to target us in 2009. The University has failed to act on these complaints, meaningfully hold the UWPD accountable, or implement police accountability structures to receive and investigate complaints about the UWPD. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">In September of 2009, two activist journalists, both women of color, were arrested by the UWPD for criminal trespass and spent a night in jail after interviewing custodians in the Health Sciences Building about their working conditions. Real Change News covered the arrests and coalition member group Democracy Insurgent wrote a statement condemning the arrests, but the University failed to take action. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">From September 2009 to January 2010, UWPD surveilled and harassed custodians organizing against unsafe and abusive working conditions on an ongoing basis. Campus police officers were regularly present at swingshift workers' clock-in stations in Health Sciences to question custodians about their break meetings. Dayshift workers faced similar conditions. In December, a custodian break meeting in Health Sciences organized by registered student groups International Workers and Students for Justice and UW National Lawyers Guild was disrupted by Officer Russ Sattarov, a uniformed UWPD officer. Democracy Insurgent and UW National Lawyers Guild sent an open letter to UW Custodial Services condemning this police intimidation and subsequently organized a protest when the university did not respond. A story about this action and the police intimidation that precipitated it was covered on the front page of The Daily. Again, the University failed to take action. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">Anti-budget cuts organizers are not the only activists who have been targeted by the UWPD. During a May Day rally in Red Square in 2009, Officer Van Leuven--the same officer who infiltrated the SWC meeting-- was amongst UW police officers who threatened activists from Movimiento Estudiantil Chicana/o de Aztlán (MEChA) with arrest while selectively enforcing amplified sound regulations. This incident was also reported in the Daily, yet the administration did not take action.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: black;">This is far more than an "error in judgment." Police intimidation of activists is an ongoing policy and practice of the UW police department that is condoned by the UW administration. We demand that this police harassment end immediately.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="border: medium none; padding: 0in 0in 1pt;"><div style="border: medium none; line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">We also demand that the University take steps to establish a meaningful process to hold the police accountable to our community. The administration has said it will meet with the police department to have conversations "about the kinds of things that are acceptable in our community and the kinds of things that are not." The University community has not been invited to this meeting, and the administration has not engaged us in a conversation about what police conduct is and is not acceptable. In fact, neither the UWPD nor the administration have apologized to us for the infiltration of our meeting. More importantly, the University has made no assurances that it will do anything to establish a disinterested mechanism to hold the UWPD accountable for police misconduct. As a first step, the University should issue a statement condemning and apologizing for this pattern of abuse, and must commit itself fully to establishing transparent, community oversight of the UWPD.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">UW Student Worker Coalition # uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-18592089016058049312010-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:002010-04-21T14:00:22.693-07:00FaDU writes open letter to UAW Bargaining TeamApril 21, 2012<br />
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<br />
To the members of the UAW Local 4121 Bargaining Team:<br />
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As you have communicated to union membership, negotiations between the University of Washington and UAW Local 4121, representing Academic Student Employees at UW, to secure a strong and fair contract for 2010-2013, have been challenging. Since bargaining began in early March, 2010, UW management have come to the table with nothing but takeaways for some of their most essential and lowest paid employees. According to UAW 4121's bargaining updates, UW's position has changed very little, if at all, over the six weeks of bargaining since. Less than two weeks remain before ASEs' current contract expires. UW management have made it clear that they have every intention of pushing through draconian working conditions for the people who do half the university's teaching and a large amount of its research. But they've also made it clear what they fear -- that we, whose work they so depend on, will go on strike....<a href="http://forademocraticuniversity.blogspot.com/2010/04/open-letter-to-uaw-bargaining-team.html">read more HERE</a>.anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-33784698534338575662010-04-20T07:34:00.000-07:002010-04-21T13:49:48.707-07:00PRESS RELEASE--UWPD Infiltrate Student Organization<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b>UPDATE: see story on <a href="http://www.kirotv.com/news/23213738/detail.html">KIRO TV</a>! </b><br />
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<b>See Press Release below! Go <a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/p/may-3-strike-pledge.html">here </a>to sign strike pledge!</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span class="il"><b><span style="color: black;">PRESS</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black;"> <span class="il">RELEASE</span>- For Immediate <span class="il">Release</span> </span></b></div><div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">April 20, 2010<br />
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</span><span class="il"><b><span style="color: black;">Press</span></b></span><b><span style="color: black;"> Contacts</span></b><span style="color: black;">: </span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">UW Student Worker Coalition—uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com<br />
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<o:p></o:p></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><span style="color: black;">http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com</span></div><div style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in;"><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 18pt; line-height: 115%;">Undercover Police Infiltrate Registered Student Organization at University of Washington<o:p></o:p></span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Seattle, WA--</span></b><span style="font-family: Times; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> On Thursday April 8, students, workers, and instructors welcomed an unfamiliar face to a publicly advertised meeting for a campus-wide strike May 3rd. A woman who identified herself simply as “Tani" described herself as an "alum" of UW who was passionate about the cuts. She also said that her father worked with Waste Management and she was in the meeting to find out what the May 3rd strike committee was involved in with regards to the Teamsters' recent call for a strike. "Tani" actively participated in the planning meeting for a large-scale action demanding immigrant and worker justice, student access to UW, and smaller class sizes and writing center to improve education. The following week, however, student activists accidently bumped into “Tani” again—this time, though, as Officer Tanesha van Leuven of the UWPD. We have reason to believe that Tani was sent by the University of Washington to spy on the meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: black;"> The University of Washington has made police infiltration and intimidation its primary tactic for retaliating against workers and activists fighting privatization at UW. In the Fall and Winter of 2009, immigrant workers faced continuous harassment from the UWPD for talking with other workers about their working conditions, clearly violating labor law. That September, two women of color journalists and activists—a childcare worker and a pre-nursing student—were arrested after interviewing immigrant women workers during their break time about the challenges they face in the workplace. With layoffs and arbitrary shift changes being enforced by custodial services, many workers have experienced inhumane amounts of extra work and speed up. UWPD officers also often harass students who choose to organize within on-campus registered student organizations while they are handing out flyers, or even just walking on campus going to class. For example, last Tuesday, while passing out flyers and talking with students, two women graduate students were approached by a bike officer of the UWPD who told them “I wish I could arrest people for no reason.” These attacks, the violence perpetrated against activists in Seattle, Portland, and Olympia, the increase in police killing of unarmed people of color, and now the covert infiltration of a student group by UWPD raise serious and alarming questions about possible violence and surveillance against students and workers at the hands of the University and its police force. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-indent: .5in;"><span style="color: black;">Since June of 2009, workers, students, and community members have been fighting against lay-offs of immigrant workers, increases in tuition that exclude working students and students of color, cuts to quality education, and an ongoing process of privatization that favors revenue for some at the top of the university, while taking funds away from students and workers. While the university’s state budget continues to be cut, the reality is this cut is less than 3% of the total UW budget. In fact, most of the budget shortfall—$469 million—came from the university's risky investments, NOT from the cuts from the state. Since 2004, the UW Treasury has been investing in hedge funds, and hiking tuition, from $4968 in 2003 to $8800 in 2010, to back up these investments should they default. Rather than cutting from the top, and changing its spending focuses, the university continues to perpetuate the myth that tuition hikes go toward ameliorating the state cuts.<o:p></o:p></span></div><span style="color: black;"> On March 4th, while over 700 students and workers were protesting budget cuts on and off campus, and many more were protesting across the country, the UW met with the UAW 4121, Academic Student Employees (ASE’s), bargaining team to start contract negotiations. At this meeting, the UW told UAW negotiators that because they opposed a tuition increase bill in the legislature in February, the University would retaliate against all ASE’s by taking away lay-off protections, increasing healthcare premiums, and firing all tutors and writing center instructors, among other take-aways. Many UAW members are pushing their elected representatives to call a strike, which was already authorized by membership, to begin the first day after contract negotiations if the University continues to bargain in bad faith. The May 3rd student strike was planned to correspond with this day, and to support custodians and other state workers facing cuts. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: double windowtext 6.75pt; border: none; mso-border-bottom-alt: thin-thick-thin-medium-gap windowtext 6.75pt; mso-element: para-border-div; padding: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in;"><div style="border: none; line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-border-bottom-alt: thin-thick-thin-medium-gap windowtext 6.75pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 0in 1.0pt 0in; padding: 0in;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"> Through its actions, the University PD has shown itself to be unaccountable to students and the UW community. It does, however, do the work of controlling student movements on behalf of the UW administration. The UWPD and the UW administration seek to curtail organizing by workers and students, but they will not succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div><div align="center" style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">UW Student Worker Coalition # uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com</span><o:p></o:p></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-27514413282906451772010-04-15T22:05:00.000-07:002010-04-16T00:09:27.252-07:00Sign the May 3 Strike Pledge Online<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #222222;">Pledge to join the May 3 campus strike against budget cuts, part of a month of action for labor and immigrant rights. Click here: </span><a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/p/may-3-strike-pledge.html">http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/p/may-3-strike-pledge.html</a>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-61190453627837743922010-04-14T02:14:00.000-07:002010-04-14T02:14:21.537-07:00May 3rd Strike Committee Meetings - New Dates/TimesThe strike committee for the May 3rd campus strike is now in full-swing. We have moved from one meeting a week to two. Those meetings are now on Monday and Thursday evenings at 6pm at the UW-Seattle campus, Smith Hall 405. <br />
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The next meeting is this Thursday (4/15) at 6pm in Smith Hall 405. <br />
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Hope to see you there.<br />
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Sincerely,<br />
Strike Committeeanti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-86630410312358826962010-04-11T07:02:00.001-07:002010-04-11T07:02:50.001-07:00Next Strike Committee 6 PM TUES April 13 Smith 405!!Please note change in date and time for next strike committee!!anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-61625755423871869362010-04-07T10:27:00.000-07:002010-04-07T10:27:52.533-07:00Join May 3rd Strike Committee<div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">STRIKE!</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">~ May 3RD 2010 ~ </span></b></div><br />
On March 4th, nearly 1000 students, workers and community members came out to declare a definitive NO! to the budget cuts that affect all of us. We were bold and united, inspired by one another’s presence, and felt our collective power on the streets!<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">WE WANT TO DO IT AGAIN. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Join the STRIKE COMMITTEE on </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>THURS (APRIL 8TH) at 7:15pm</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">SMITH 405</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">EVERYONE IS WELCOME</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><br />
~ UW annual tuition will increase by 30% in 2 years. This will make the university less accessible for working class students and students of color. We will be taking out more student loans that take a lifetime to pay back.<br />
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~800 workers were laid off by the UW in 2009. More will follow this year. <br />
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~In April 2010, the UAW, representing Teaching and Research Assistants are negotiating their contract with the UW. 600 TAs may lose their jobs. Our TAs work conditions are our learning condition! We need to demand SMALL CLASS SIZES so we don’t end up paying MORE for LESS <br />
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~State workers’ healthcare is slated to be cut by $ 220 million this year. Healthcare premiums will double, and out-of-pocket maximums will increase from $ 2000 to $ 7500 per person. This is more than a $5000 increase<br />
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All this time, the top administrators continue to make big salaries WELL above <br />
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$150, 000 without taking pay cuts; and the WA state legislature refuses to <br />
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TAX THE RICH <br />
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We did not create this crisis. We should not pay for it with our futures and our health. In solidarity with teaching and research assistants, students, custodians and state workers:<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">No Business as Usual.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Save the date: May 3rd STRIKE </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Si se puede!</div><br />
The Strike committee meets every Thurs. email us at UWStudentWorkerCoalition@gmail.comanti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-1146421718912241922010-03-27T13:53:00.000-07:002010-03-28T16:00:23.166-07:00Reflections on March 4th 2010 by Democracy InsurgentDemocracy Insurgent, a member group of the Student Worker Coalition, recently wrote a piece reflecting on March 4th. We take up questions of leadership, democracy and mass movement dynamics we hope to learn from for our next actions.<br />
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Please read the reflection piece <a href="http://www.democracyinsurgent.org/?q=node/5">here</a>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-75292418886850751482010-03-17T10:39:00.000-07:002010-03-17T10:39:16.932-07:00"They Ain't Seen Nothin Yet" - General Assembly ReportbackDuring the student strike on March 4th, the UW Student Worker Coalition (UWSWC) called for a General Assembly (GA) to discuss the next steps in the fight against budget cuts and privatization. For those of you who wanted to attend but couldn't make it, here is a very brief summary of the GA: <br />
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At the GA, there was overwhelming support for the May 3rd grad student worker strike. Grad student workers such as TAs and RAs are negotiating their contract right now and the UW administration is demanding concessions that will lower their pay, threaten their job security, and require them to pay more for health care. They will be striking on the 3rd to resist this. They will also be striking to fight for smaller class sizes which will benefit undergrads. The majority of people at the GA supported proposals for a student strike on the same day in solidarity with the grad student workers becuase we will be more powerful if we fight together. <br />
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Many people at the GA also agreed to support those rank and file WFSE local 1488 workers who want to strike against massive cuts to their healthcare and other abuses; if WFSE workers do decide to strike, we can encourage them to do so on May 3rd, the same day as grad student workers and undergrads so that our combined power will be stronger. <br />
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Many people at the GA proposed that we can actually shut down the campus with firmer picket lines then we had on March 4th. March 4th was a half day student strike; May 3rd could be a full day or longer joint student-worker strike similar to what happened at UC Santa Cruz. If we don't get to that point by the beginning of May, then we'll do as much as we can. <br />
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The GA recommended that April be a month of agitation/outreach to build for the May 3rd strike. The three most popular event recommendations for April were:<br />
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1) Debate between anti-budget cuts organizer(s) and Young Democrats, Young Republicans, Libertarians, Mark Emmert, or the Board of Regents (obviously lots of potential opponents - yet to be decided). The debate would be a method to make our analysis of the budget cuts (at the state level and the university level) more public. It would also be an opportunity to foreground the need for a mass movement uniting both students and workers at UW, as well as the broader community. <br />
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2) Fundraiser to build a strike fund for lower-paid WFSE workers, so that a day-long or multiple day strike would be more feasible for workers.<br />
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3) Teach-in - Could be about the budget cuts, the history of resistance at UW, the importance of strikes, etc. The topic(s) have yet to be finalized.<br />
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There was also support for a possible day of action on May 27th or May 28th which MEChA may organize as part of their national conference. <br />
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We discussed how we can reach out to more students from groups at the Ethnic Cultural Center; many students from these groups came out to the March 4th strike. <br />
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Announcements:<br />
1) The independent graduate student labor group, For a Democratic University (FaDU) is holding a rally outside of their contract negotiations. Please come out and support them as they pressure the university to negotiate a fair contract.<br />
When: March 31st, 3:30pm<br />
Where: South Campus Center<br />
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We hope individuals and groups will continue to join the struggle for our education and our jobs. Please let us know if you would like to be involved in any of the upcoming events or organizing efforts. We can be reached at uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com. The UW Student Worker Coalition meets every Thursday at 6pm in Suzzallo Cafe.<br />
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In Struggle,<br />
UWSWCanti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-87963880691058117342010-03-11T18:12:00.000-08:002010-03-12T20:30:18.465-08:00UW IN A CRISIS: A CALL TO ACTION by For a Democratic UniversityStatement put out by FaDU regarding recent contract negotiations go to <a href="http://forademocraticuniversity.blogspot.com">forademocraticuniversity.blogspot.com</a> for more!<div><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">UW IN A CRISIS: A CALL TO ACTION</span></div><div style="text-align: center;">by For A Democratic University, an independent graduate student labor group</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div>The University is in a crisis – but who’s paying for it? While students were striking on March 4th, negotiations were taking place between the UAW (the union representing TAs, RAs, graders, and writing tutors) and the University administration. The union is beginning its bargaining for a new contract for the workers it represents. This contract sets the base pay, benefits, and working conditions for thousands of academic student employees (ASEs) at UW.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">What is our union’s bargaining team asking for?</span></div><div>1. Increase earnings for all ASEs to keep pace with increases in cost of living, work requirements and peer wages</div><div>2. Secure improvements to the current health program, such that services are adequately covered, ASEs with extraordinary costs are protected, dependents are more affordably covered and plan administration is improved</div><div>3. Ensure that ASEs' ability to maintain quality in their jobs is not hindered by inadequate staffing or resources.</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">A strong contract should not stop here! FaDU also demands:</span></div><div>1. Free, quality childcare for all ASE’s</div><div>2. Smaller class sizes for teaching assistants; no class size increase due to “budget cuts”</div><div>3. The same health insurance plan offered to permanent UW employees.</div><div> <a name='more'></a><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">However, the University has responded to the union bargaining team with regressive cuts and punitive takeaways:</span></div><div>1. Elimination of wage increases</div><div>2. Weakening of layoff protections for ASEs who have already been offered appointments</div><div>3. Changes to variable pay practices, such that ASEs currently being paid above base rates could be dropped to lower pay rates</div><div>4. Placing the burden of paying health insurance premiums upon ASEs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Mark Emmert keeps telling us to lobby Olympia and that Olympia is the problem when it comes to budget cuts. Yet at the opening of bargaining, the UW administration attacked our union on its political work in Olympia against privatization of tuition setting authority (the defeated “Kilmer bill” would have transferred tuition control from the legislature to the un-elected UW Board of Regents). <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Is the University administration retaliating against our union for lobbying in Olympia? Is Mark Emmert acting in good faith when he tells us to organize in Olympia and not on campus?</span></div><div><br /></div><div>At every contract negotiation, the administration always demands cuts – they say this is to increase productivity, but for us it means more work under worse conditions and lowers the quality of education for everyone. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">An economic crisis, when job prospects are insecure and budget cuts seem inevitable, is the perfect opportunity for UW administration to demand deeper cuts to grad student workers than ever before.</span> But what we really need right now are better working conditions, and we need improvements beyond what the union has asked for. We need a quality health insurance plan like the one offered to permanent university employees – our current plan doesn't even cover basic preventive care. We need small class sizes so that we can actually teach; many TAs currently teach to 50-150 students. And we need childcare – the cost of which currently consumes our entire paycheck. The University partially subsidizes childcare for students, but the wait list can take years.</div><div><br /></div><div>We do essential work for this university, from writing multi-million research grants to teaching quiz sections and full classes, but we are also at the lowest end of the salary scale. Mark Emmert earns a whopping $900,000 per year while a typical research assistant earns $20,000 annually. Mark Emmert’s job is not the most important on campus! Without our labor in the classrooms, in the labs, in university writing centers, the university would not function. This is the power that UW administration will respond to, not to charts that show how poor we are or how the budget cuts have hurt us. Administration already knows this; they write our paychecks! <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Our labor is our power.</span></div><div><br /></div><div>What can we do fight for the wage increases, better health care, smaller class sizes, and child care that we need? The University has entered negotiations aggressively; they've shown us that they will not give in unless we demonstrate that campus business can't and won't continue without us. Therefore, it is crucial that we build a strong movement of all workers that will force the University to compromise their exploitative plans to OUR demands, not the other way around. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Ultimately we will need to strike, but this is something we have to build toward.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Here are some steps that For a Democratic University proposes:</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">“Grade-in” March 16, 1-5pm, HUB 1st floor (by info desk):</span> Grade and work together as we tally how much money we make for the UW</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">March 31, 3:30 PM, South Campus Center (behind Health Sciences):</span> Picket outside the first union / administration bargaining meeting of spring quarter.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">April 5, 5 PM, Smith 205</span>: Grad student general assembly</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Week of April 12, time/place TBA:</span> Special panel on with international students for immigrants’ rights!</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">April 30:</span> End of contract negotiations.</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">May 3:</span> First Monday after negotiations end. UAW members strike!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For A Democratic University faduni@gmail.com ~ http://forademocraticuniversity.blogspot.com/</div></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-39689694155757596602010-03-06T09:29:00.000-08:002010-03-06T09:31:37.336-08:00GENERAL ASSEMBLY--THURSDAY 6 PM SMITH 205!March 4th was incredible! Thanks for everyone to come out. With a thousand people at the strike, and hundreds shutting down the Ave, we had a successful STEP in making the UW a democratic place! But things are still heating up...come out Thursday at 6 PM to Smith 205 for a GENERAL ASSEMBLY to talk about NEXT STEPS! Forward Widely, and stay tuned for a report back on March 4 events.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qG2Pf2EJ1TkNTycvD95sABx3rS6J1yxiH-dBMUjF1Sh_fEDP1c6XRb1nUB6QBVcf0fOyG9ocg_urTDPcKEEM7kyatIl9LC7j2QAQl3UYlORSCCtGHihoFsonnvXkPaJ3FLeK6soZjROy/s1600-h/General+Assembly+Flyer-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 335px; height: 433px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7qG2Pf2EJ1TkNTycvD95sABx3rS6J1yxiH-dBMUjF1Sh_fEDP1c6XRb1nUB6QBVcf0fOyG9ocg_urTDPcKEEM7kyatIl9LC7j2QAQl3UYlORSCCtGHihoFsonnvXkPaJ3FLeK6soZjROy/s400/General+Assembly+Flyer-2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5445574718297574898" border="0" /></a>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-39862220933565156712010-03-04T09:32:00.000-08:002010-03-17T10:42:33.483-07:00Continuing Press Roundup!<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/dinsurg#p/a/u/0/u3cLxJkbKAY">VIDEO</a> made by member of FaDU/UW SWC<br />
<br />
MORE PRESS!<br />
<a href="http://badgerherald.com/news/2010/03/16/education_revolt_of_.php">Badger Herald</a> in Madison, Wisconsin<br />
<a href="http://www.realchangenews.org/index.php/site/archives-blog/3912/">Real Change</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kirotv.com/video/22747595/index.html">Kiro TV 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kirotv.com/education/22739549/detail.html">More KIRO TV</a><br />
<a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/416210_uwprotest04.html?source=mypi">Seattle PI</a><a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/local/86392542.html"><br />
KOMO</a><br />
<a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2011260737_studentstrike05m.html">Seattle Times</a>, <a href="http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2011260737_studentstrike05m.html?syndication=rss">More w/Pictures (click on gallery)</a><br />
On at 4 Minutes from 3/5/10: <a href="http://www.blogger.com/www.kuow.org">KUOW's All Things Considered</a><a href="http://dailyuw.com/2010/3/5/uw-student-and-worker-protesters-hey-hey-ho-ho-bud/"><br />
UW Daily</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=129&sid=293486&pid=0">KIRO Radio</a>-Pictures<br />
<a href="http://www.mynorthwest.com/?sid=293498&nid=11">Kiro radio story</a><br />
<a href="http://www.kirotv.com/education/22739549/detail.html">KIRO TV</a><br />
<a href="http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2010/03/04/todays-campus-rallies">The Stranger</a><a href="http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=19617"><br />
KUOW</a><br />
<a href="http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100304/NEWS01/703049906&news01ad=1">Everett Herald </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-030410-uwprotest,0,7835367.story">Q13Fox's vague coverage </a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1619431/KPLU.Local.News/UW.Students..Workers.Hold.One-day.Strike">KPLU</a>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-88587750656389724322010-03-03T17:53:00.001-08:002010-03-03T17:53:36.466-08:00Don't be Bamboozled by the Budget!<object id="_ds_27427482" name="_ds_27427482" width="670" height="550" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://viewer.docstoc.com/"> <param name="FlashVars" value="doc_id=27427482&mem_id=3107836&doc_type=pdf&fullscreen=0&showrelated=0&showotherdocs=0&showstats=0 "> <param name="movie" value="http://viewer.docstoc.com/"> <param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"> </object> <br /> <span style="font-size:78%;"><a href="http://www.docstoc.com/docs/27427482/Don't be Bamboozled by UW budget!"> Don't be Bamboozled by UW budget!</a> - </span>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-79433660436326516682010-03-02T15:01:00.000-08:002010-03-03T17:42:38.692-08:00MEDIA ADVISORY: STUDENT STRIKE!Interview on KUOW w/Mark Emmert, with key questions by UWSWC members!! http://kuow.org/program.php?id=19569<br /><br />Already had<a href="http://www.seattlepi.com/local/416046_UWPICKET1.html"> coverage in PI</a>, and check out KIRO Radio (97.3) Dave Ross Show archives for an interview that occurred today! Also, there has reportedly been coverage on King 5...<div>MORE!!: http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=292004</div><div>_____________________________________</div><div><div>MEDIA ADVISORY</div><div><br /></div><div>For Immediate Release: Monday, March 1, 2010</div><div><br /></div><div>Contact: UW Student Worker Coalition (UWstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com)</div><div><br /></div><div>UW Students Strike to Defend Public Education</div><div><br /></div><div>Seattle, WA- Since the first round of budget cuts and extreme tuition hikes last Spring, workers and students have been working together to fight the restructuring of the University that President Mark Emmert has called a “market-driven business model.” So far, this model has included unsafe working conditions, extra-work and layoffs for workers and larger class sizes, higher tuition, and less access to teaching assistants and writing tutors for undergraduates. The restructuring of the University has hit working students, students of color, and students with disabilities particularly hard, and also made access to the University more difficult for low income youth and youth of color, as well as those currently attending Seattle’s community colleges. UW currently educates about 40,000 students and is the third largest employer in the state of Washington.</div><div><br /></div><div>In solidarity with the March 4th National Day of Action to Defend Public Education, the UW Student Worker Coalition (UWSWC), comprised of workers, students, and community members, is organizing a student strike to take place at 1PM on the quad, where many classes are held. This student strike was called in accordance with the general strikes called in California by AFSCME Local 444 and the San Francisco Labor Council. Many other unions and organizations across California have called for strikes or other actions. At UW, UAW Local 4121 (Academic Student Employees, such as TA’s and tutors), WFSE 1488 (mostly trades workers and custodians) and SEIU 925 (office and technical workers) have all endorsed the student strike and encouraged their members to attend the picket lines on their own time. Workers and students will stand together on picket lines in the quad, while For a Democratic University, a graduate student organization, keeps up displays and information sessions about the legacy of activism at UW, the significance of strikes, and the budget cuts at UW. In addition to UW workers and students, high school students from West Seattle, community college students, and other organized workers from around the city plan to attend the strike as well.</div><div><br /></div><div>UW SWC’s demands include transparent and democratic budget allocation; cut from the top administrators with a salary cap of $150,000; no lay-offs; no speed-ups for workers; accessible public education especially for people of color, women, queer folks, and people with disabilities; a freeze on tuition; and to replace loans with grants for financial aid.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div>Who: Sponsor- UW Student Worker Coalition (UW SWC)</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>What: Student Strike, part of March 4th National Day of Action</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>When: Thursday, March 4th 1 PM</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Where: University of Washington Campus, the Quad</div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>For more information, contact UW SWC at uwstudentworkercoalition@gmail.com</div><div><br /></div></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-11384542539782263722010-02-24T15:16:00.001-08:002010-02-24T16:22:56.619-08:00WFSE 1488 and UAW 4121 and SEIU 925 Endorse Student Strike!!Here is text of these endorsements!!<div><br /></div><div><a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2010/02/wfse-1488-endorses-student-strike.html">WFSE 1488 Endorsement</a></div><div><br /></div><div>UPDATE! : SEIU 925 has also supported!!</div><div><br /></div><div><a href="http://nobudgetcutsuw.blogspot.com/2010/02/wfse-1488-and-uaw-4121-endorse-student.html#more">UAW 4121 Endorsement:</a></div><div><br /></div><div><div>Whereas, UAW Local 4121 members experience the impacts of the budget crisis and UW’s response to it on multiple levels: including as workers who are having our jobs slashed with the reduction of courses and key educational services (such as tutoring centers), as workers whose grants are strained by increasing tuition and loss of critical staff, and as students who are struggling to pay for our education and get the courses and academic support we need;</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div> <a name='more'></a><br /></div><div>Whereas, UAW Local 4121 members have joined other students, workers, and community allies in the fight for a progressive vision of education in Washington; and applauds the efforts of other campus groups and unions to participate in a national day of action on Match 4th, especially the resolution adopted by UAW Local 2856 on January 30, 2010 and AFSCME/WFSE Local 1488 on February 20, 2010;</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Whereas the combined strength of students and workers increases our chance of defeating both furloughs and tuition hikes;</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Whereas UAW Local 4121 sees our upcoming contract negotiations as part of this broad movement to defend jobs and public education;</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Be it resolved, UAW Local 4121 endorses the “National March 4th Strike and Day of Action to Defend Public Education,” and specifically on the UW campus endorses the “Student Strike” called by the UW Student Worker Coalition on March 4th and commits its resources and leadership to in supporting membership participation in campus, statewide, and national actions.</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Further, UAW Local 4121 encourages members to participate in the Day of Action and UW Student Worker Coalition “Student Strike” on their personal time, and also for those members who teach or tutor during this time to not retaliate against or otherwise hinder students who take part in the strike;</div><div><br /></div><div> </div><div><br /></div><div>Further, UAW Local 4121 also calls on all other unions, labor organizations, and progressive communities to endorse the March 4th mobilizations and commit resources to making it the broadest, most effective movement possible.</div></div>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1230191011394791765.post-9056633437708647392010-02-23T15:52:00.000-08:002010-02-23T15:57:15.362-08:00Statement on High Tuition/High AidStudent Liberation Front, a relatively new group of undergraduates who are a part of the UW SWC, recently wrote this piece on the failure of the "High Tuition/High Aid" model!<br /><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />Public Statement on the High Tuition/High Aid Model</span><br /><span style="font-weight: normal;font-family:times new roman;" >by the UW Student Liberation Front (SLF)</span><br /><br /></div><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> Low tuition and high aid in the form of need-based grants are NOT incompatible. In fact, both are necessary to keep UW truly accessible and public. Calling for one but not the other will only push low-income students, students of color, women, queer folks, and students with disabilities out of the university; effectively transforming UW into a whiter, elitist institution for the wealthy.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">President Emmert has justified his move towards higher tuition by promising higher financial aid for low-income students through grant programs like the Husky Promise. This high tuition/high aid model is a failed strategy to bring in more low-income youth in both the short and long-term. In their seminal research report entitled "Losing by Degrees," the Economic Opportunity Institute showed that universities across the nation that have adopted this model have resulted in significant REDUCTIONS, not increases, of enrollment by low-income students and students of color. At the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor (UM), enrollment of freshmen from households earning less than $75,000 dropped from 34.6% in 1997 to 26.6% in 2007; enrollment of black students decreased from 8.4% in 1999 to 6.7% in 2008. Predicting that the same may happen at UW in the short-term, perhaps this is why Emmert has already hit the road promoting the Husky Promise.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;"> In the long-term, the high aid in the form of grants will likely drop, leaving only a high tuition model in place. We already see this trend happening with Governor Gregoire's first draft of the 2010 supplemental budget, which will cut the State Need-Based Grant program by $146.4 million, causing 12,300 students to lose their grants. By his own admission of Gregoire's budget, Emmert wrote that "the 7,000 students [currently on the Husky Promise] would be unable to continue." Emmert has provided no solution to keeping the Husky Promise and need-based grants outside blaming Olympia; meanwhile, tuition of in-state residents will be increasing at least 28% this year and next combined, and Emmert is pushing to see the Kilmer Bill passed so that the Board of Regents have full tuition setting ability, a euphemism for unrestricted control to hike up tuition far beyond this 28%. Why has Emmert devoted so much effort to hike up tuition through Olympia but not to preserve need-based grants?</span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"> <a name='more'></a> This riddle could be solved simply by looking at the unwritten premise behind the Husky Promise and the high tuition/high aid model. On paper, the Husky Promise is a "guarantee to Washington state students that we will not let financial challenges stand in the way of...achieving a UW degree." This sugar coating Promise was strategic in convincing low-income students that they could still access the university and projecting Emmert as a friend to working-class families, while deeper changes of privatization of the university could simultaneously occur unnoticed. Three years later amid a state budget crisis, Emmert's call for higher tuition instead of lower tuition and more grants is revealing not only the priorities of the Regents, but also the initial underlying purpose behind the Husky Promise: privatization via tuition hikes for students.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">Privatization essentially means less state input and more corporate control over UW, as evidenced by the Regents sitting on the boards of various big businesses. By increasing tuition and student services fees, the Regents have a secure source of money outside state funding that can be freely used to fund corporate projects and priorities and to leverage further investment. This explains why workers have been easily cut, at the same time that construction of new facilities and labs are occurring, so long as the Regents believe the latter is profit-generating. We are witnessing a wholesale deprioritization of education at UW (layoffs of workers who maintain classrooms, increased class sizes) and a shift to profit-generating activities such as research. If Emmert believes that education is public and a priority of UW, then he would have pushed for low tuition and increased grant aid for low-income students.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">The UW Student Liberation Front is demanding low tuition and increased financial aid in the form of grants. We are fighting for the preservation of the Husky Promise, and re-envisioning it not as a means to increase tuition, as Emmert wants, but as an ends because low-income students have a right to higher education. The Student Liberation Front meets on Mondays at 7:00pm in Suzzallo Cafe.</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">-Veryl Pow</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">UW Student Liberation Front</span> <span style="font-family:times new roman;">(uwstudentliberationfront@gmail.com)</span>anti-budget cuts coalitionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15984196908055050769noreply@blogger.com0