At the GMM we held on Thursday, workers voted to hold a strike authorization vote (SAV) this semester. This was proposed to be held in two weeks, but the specific dates will be decided as we move forward. Our bargaining committee would need to officially call the SAV, which then authorizes them to launch a strike, and must be passed by a supermajority (2/3) of union members who vote.
Across departments, many workers have reported the following open questions that remain to be answered before a strike:
- What specific work counts as job duties which we will stop doing, and what academic work will we continue doing during a strike?
- How will we discuss the prospects of a strike with our PIs, students, and other collaborators?
- What are the logistics of distributing strike benefits and running a hardship fund to meet our needs during a strike?
- How will we respond to potential retaliation by Northeastern administration or the federal government, especially to keep international workers safe?
- What should the timeline of our strike be? When will it start and how long might it last?
- What are the key demands we are united in striking to win?
We will continue discussing these issues and more in our departments, and hold another GMM after the SAV launches. If your lab or department does not already have a meeting planned to talk about these issues, reply to this email to be connected with someone to help you organize one.
In solidarity,
GENU Organizing Committee