At our last membership meeting we heard reports from our unionized colleagues, the Graduate Workers of Columbia, about their contract negotiations. Support from our union will help them win a fair contract, strengthen the collective voice of academic workers at Columbia and allow us to continue improving our working conditions by building on each other’s successes.
Picket lines are taking place at all 3 Manhattan campuses from 10-2pm. We encourage you to join your postdoctoral colleagues standing in solidarity with Graduate Workers at their picket lines, even if it’s for a short period. Find more information about time and locations and RSVP here.
On another note, we discussed the upcoming endorsement process for the New York City mayoral race through the UAW’s Community Action Program, and how this process can provide researchers with a bigger voice in national, state, and local politics, particularly for those of us who are on visas and cannot vote. Click here to join our Political Action working group discussing the endorsement process.
In addition, members provided details about three different virtual film screenings taking place next week that may be of interest:
On Tuesday March 23 7-9pm
As part of UAW Region 9A work on fighting systemic racism, the Civil and Human Rights Council will premier the film “Racially Charged: America’s Misdemeanor Problem.” After the documentary we will have a discussion with the producer of the film, some of our UAW siblings and formerly incarcerated panelists to learn about their experiences with the criminal justice system. See the flyer attached and RSVP here.
“A powerful, emotional and important film. Robert Greenwald and Brave New Films leading the charge, once again. The film powerfully illustrates that every year America arrests, prosecutes, and jails millions of people, overwhelmingly Black and brown, for minor offenses. This is neither an accident nor inevitable. Watch, absorb, and then go out and take action….” – Anthony Romero/ Executive Director, American Civil Liberties Union
On Friday March 26, 6-8pm
Screening of “In Silico” followed by Q&A with Director Noah Hutton – find more information here
From Monday Apr 5, 2021, through Thursday, Apr 8, 2021
The Columbia Postdoctoral Society (CUPS) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Journal Club has organized a virtual screening of the 2020 documentary by Director Shalini Kantayya “CODED BIAS”. Find more information here
In Solidarity,
CPW-UAW Local 4100 Executive Board
P.S. – To stay informed about our union, check out columbiapostdocunion.org, and follow us on Twitter and Facebook!