On September 30th, our current contract with the CSU expires, and over this summer we will be negotiating a successor contract with the CSU. This is our opportunity as Academic Student Workers to show the CSU that our contributions to the university system must be recognized through improved working conditions, pay raises, and a stronger contract. Our ability to win a strong contract is directly tied to how unified we are as Student Workers behind our bargaining demands. 

 

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What is bargaining?

 

Bargaining is a process where we demonstrate to the CSU administration that we, as Academic Student Workers, are an organized majority that will pressure the CSU through a series of collective actions that we need our demands met. We are in the first stage of this process where we are surveying our members about their priorities through our bargaining survey. The next step is for Student Workers to develop and ratify initial bargaining demands. 

 

In May, we will present the ratified initial bargaining demands to the CSU Board of Trustees at their bimonthly meeting. This meeting is open to the public and another opportunity for members to demonstrate our power and unity to the CSU administration. Contract negotiations between us and the CSU administration will take place over the course of the summer, and there will be many opportunities for members to get involved throughout the negotiation process. 

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What are initial bargaining demands?

 

These initial demands are not final contract language. Rather, they are general goals of topics we will be fighting to improve during the duration of the campaign. As the contract campaign progresses, the contract language will be developed through a combination of further research, additional membership discussion, topic-specific working groups, negotiating with CSU administration, and more. The more you get involved, the more impact you’ll have on our final contract language!

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I don’t have any problems in my department — why should I care about this?

 

Many of the benefits you enjoy today have come from activism and organizing of previous generations of Student Workers just like you. Your decision to become involved and support the contract campaign ensures we can continue to build a stronger university, not just for us as individuals but for our entire community. The most basic way to support is by being a union member. If you’re not a member yet, please sign up here or click "Become a Member" at the top of this page.

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How can I get more involved?

 

Everyone is welcome & strongly encouraged to participate in every stage of our contract campaign.

There are many ways to get involved:

 

• Become a member: If you aren’t already, be sure to sign up as a member of your union! There is strength in numbers. Membership builds our collective power to win more rights and benefits.

 

• Encourage others in your department to join: Help contact fellow academic student workers in your lab, department, or other social networks about joining! The more members that do this work, the stronger we can make our campaign as a whole. Email union@uaw4123.org to get connected with organizers in your area. 

 

• Attend & participate in your campus membership meetings: To find out about your campus meetings, email us at union@uaw4123.org or check out our Event Calendar page. 

 

• Attend & participate in bargaining sessions: All members are encouraged to attend bargaining sessions! When bargaining begins later this Spring, more information will be shared about when sessions are and how you can join.