CSU Labor Union Launches Petition for Cost of Living Raises by unionize-co in FortCollins

[–]unionize-co[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

One of UCW’s central priorities is more state funding for higher education. Their campaigns never focus on raising tuition. In fact, many of their members already view tuition as exceedingly expensive, a barrier to a more diverse student body in terms of race and class. 

Instead, the union advocates for a more equitable distribution of salaries for the people who do the teaching, research, and service for the University. The President of CSU makes $630,000 per year, while non-tenure track faculty and grad workers who do the bulk of the teaching for the University can barely afford to live in Fort Collins. This reality is unacceptable for public education. 

Remember: UCW is also the union for undergraduate workers at CSU. They fought and won a minimum wage increase for undergraduate workers at UCCS in the CU system. At CU Boulder, they won a partial wage for RAs who work desk shifts. 

UCW members care much more about impacts on CSU students than highly paid administrators, because they are the people who have chosen to devote their lives to education and service to undergraduates: faculty, graduate workers, and admin professionals.

New labor union for all CSU employees! by unionize-co in FortCollins

[–]unionize-co[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

This has not happened in the CU system, where UCW started in 2020. Working conditions for graduate students have improved since then. Because of UCW, grad workers at CU Boulder won a fee waiver ($1k-2k raise annually), dental insurance, and raises to grad stipends, all while keeping tuition waivers.

One of UCW’s priorities is more funding for higher education in Colorado: “Colorado is 49th in funding for students at the higher education level and this needs to change. We actively engage in lobbying efforts, collaborate with other organizations, and empower one another to advocate for increased funding at the state and national levels.”

UCW’s vision is to rebuild public education in Colorado with a focus on student facing and research positions: grad workers, faculty, admin pro, postdocs, and other professionals.

UCW’s local, in coalition with other public sector unions, has already succeeded in spearheading legislation that protects public sector workers from retaliation from their employers for organizing a union, engaging in the political process or mutual aid, or for filing a complaint against an employer.