How to support the largest academic labor strike in US history

As 48,000 academic workers enter the third week of this historic strike, support is urgently needed.

Here are ways to help:

For UC Faculty:

• The most impactful act you can take is to honor the picket line and sign the UC Faculty Pledge of Solidarity with UC Academic Workers’ Strike. Join distinguished colleagues such as Angela Davis, Cherrie Moraga, Howard Winant, Robin D. G. Kelley, Frank Wilderson, Judith Butler, Karen Barad, and more than 200 others in pledging to withhold faculty labor—including grades—until the strike is over. Only through such solidarity can faculty and strikers collectively bring the gears of the neoliberal edu-factory to a grinding halt, thus providing the crucial structural leverage needed to bring UC to the table to bargain fairly and urgently.
• Share the Pledge with your UC colleagues: https://sites.google.com/view/ucfacultypledgeofsolidarity/home
• Build undergraduate solidarity by teaching students the structural urgency behind the strike (UAW Teach-In slideshow)
• Concerned about withholding grades or replacing struck labor? See CUFCA’s FAQs and Additional FAQs re: Grading

For UC undergraduate students: here is a link to a template letter you can customize to ask your professor to cancel class and honor the strike.

For everyone:

• consider donating to the UAW-UC Academic Workers Strike Support and Hardship Fund.
• Join us on the picket line! https://www.fairucnow.org/picket/

More information available at FairUCNow.org.

Update on Labor Struggle at Fine Arts Museums of SF

Via Change.org

Hello Champions for Workers,

COFAM nonprofit workers are deeply moved by all of the community support they have been receiving. Unfortunately, management hasn’t budged much on proposals that would be harmful to the workers and their families. They have made it clear that they aim to destroy the job securities that workers have fought for decades to get.

This would jeopardize the long-term stability of the museums which would have a negative impact on the quality of your experience when visiting the de Young and the Legion of Honor.

In response, the museum’s workers have authorized a strike if absolutely necessary. They will only use this tool once all other options are exhausted.

They still have much fighting to do before winning a fair contract. A win for these workers will set a precedent that will have far-reaching effects in our city. You can leverage your community influence to support these workers in one of the following ways:

1. The cities unions and allies will be mobilizing en masse Friday, September 7th at 6PM to takeover the de Young Museum. Your participation will show that our city will not stand idly by while its workers’ rights are under attack. RSVP here: http://on.fb.me/PK3BOq

2. We ask that you call Charlie Castillo, director of human resources, at (415) 750-3673 to let him know that you support nonprofit museum workers and that he must settle a fair contract now.

3. Spread the word about what’s going on by signing and sharing our online petition. http://chn.ge/LWndth

Onward,

COFAM Nonprofit Worker Supporters

SF Museums refusing to negotiate with workers?

Via Change.org

Museum workers at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco (de Young Museum and Legion of Honor) have been dragged through contract negotiations for ten months as management proposes cutbacks to health coverage and refuses to talk face to face with union members.

Settle the Corporation of Fine Arts Museum’s nonprofit workers’ contract now.

“COFAM nonprofit workers have been dragged through lengthy draconian contract negotiations for the last 10 months. Management’s proposals would be devastating to their workers and make it difficult for them to afford healthcare for their families.

“I support the 100 nonprofit men and women who work hard to provide the city and its patrons with a wonderful place to learn and appreciate fine art. By signing our petition we can leverage community support to put pressure on Charlie Castillo (head of human resources) and Michelle Gutierrez-Canepa (chief administrative officer).”

Sign Petition here.

“When art is just a luxury, ‘ART’ is a LIE” Banner Drop at NY MoMA

#J13 #OCCUPYMUSEUMS #OCCUPYWALLSTREET – MoMA BANNER DROP @ DIEGO RIVERA EXHIBIT

MoMA is exhibiting work from one of the most renowned Mexican painters of the twentieth century, Diego Rivera. Diego influenced by the Mexican Revolution and the Russian Revolution, believed that art should play a role in empowering working people to understand their own histories. Meanwhile MoMA buys and sells millions of dollars in art at Sotheby’s auction house. Sotheby’s has locked out 43 Local 814 union art handlers, claiming they are unable to negotiate a new contract with them. “The auctioneer proposed cutting the handlers’ workweek to 36 1/4 hours from 38 3/4 hours and increasing the number of temporary laborers, according to both sides. The union said new work rules would decrease eligibility for overtime, resulting in take-home pay declining 5 percent to 15 percent. Temporary workers without medical or pension benefits would replace unionized art handlers as they retire or find other jobs. Chief Executive Officer William Ruprecht, yearly salary doubled in 2010 to $6 million dollars.”

http://www.sothebysbadforart.com/content/

Photos: 2012-01-13 – New York – #OCCUPYWALLSTREET MoMA Action

The tide is rising . . .