Jan 31, 2020
Subject: COLA General Assembly Update
Dear COLA strikers,
Last night, over 270 graduate students met in real and virtual space to decide on a collective response to the Chancellor’s intimidation and discipline. We heard from faculty organizers and our union representative about the spurious and illegal nature of the student conduct charges that some strikers are now facing. We are writing to share the outcome of last night’s meeting, including immediate next steps.
Remember, this is a fluid situation. We ask that you approach this week’s organizing with flexibility, creativity, and resolve. Many questions are not yet answered. There are many things we need to figure out, together. Let’s organize! Many of the considerations and strategies that were discussed last night are elaborated in the meeting notes, attached as a PDF below. Additionally, all graduate students are invited to attend a strike strategy/planning meeting this Monday, February 3rd at McHenry Library at 3:00 PM.
WHAT DID THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TELL US?
In the face of the administration’s reprisals against strikers, hundreds of graduate students reasserted the need to continue withholding Fall 2019 grades. We doubled down on our commitment to withhold Winter 2020 grades.
Furthermore, a majority of attendees at the General Assembly indicated that they were in favor of organizing towards a full graduate student strike beginning Monday, February 10. The specifics of what a full strike might look like will be debated and discussed at organizing meetings this upcoming week, including a strike strategy/planning meeting this Monday, February 3rd at McHenry Library at 3:00 PM for all graduate students, including GSIs and GSRs.
WHAT MIGHT I TELL MY STUDENTS/FACULTY/PEERS RIGHT NOW IF THEY ASK?
“We began this wildcat strike in December. Since then, we have continued to organize and build our power and capacity. Our escalation is a direct response to the administration’s blatant attempt to intimidate and discipline strikers with student conduct summons. Because we won’t stand for intimidation, an immediate response is critical. In the coming days, we will figure out what a strike looks like for us and our students. We invite you to organize alongside us. This is your University, too!”
WHAT DOES THE POLL MEAN/ WHY
At the end of the General Assembly, we took a poll. The poll, to use language from our earlier email communications, was framed as “an assessment of our collective power.” Therefore, it is not a vote authorizing an action. Poll results indicated overwhelming support for a strike beginning February 10. There are many considerations that were not discussed and will need to be hammered out this week.
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT IN THE COMING WEEK?
- Organizing meetings, including:
- A strike strategy/planning meeting on Monday, 3 PM at McHenry Library
- Our GSA/UAW 2865 Monthly Membership Meeting on Tuesday from 5-8pm @ the Graduate Student Commons. Undergraduate students will be planning with us from 5:45 on.
- Templates to send to faculty
- Templates for talking to your sections/labs. Fill out this form if you prefer for someone else to deliver the teach-in in your section – https://forms.gle/eebpr1Jr5y2q3Gp99
- A “How-to-Strike” document
- Department organizing meetings. If no one called a meeting in your department to discuss the escalation yes, do it–email your peers and call a meeting! If you want any of the COLA organizers to attend to help answer questions and clarify things, please email gsa_pres@ucsc.edu with requests. We are happy to do it.
WHAT DO I DO IF I GOT A SUMMONS?
- Accept your meeting. The Faculty Organizing Group (FOG) can organize a faculty member to go with you (contact ucscfacultyorganizinggroup@gmail.com); chances are your meeting will not happen. FOG recommends you request an individual meeting of at least one hour to present your case. Use the phrase “due to the number of charges” to justify the requested length.
- Email Veronica Hamilton, the Unit Chair of UAW 2865 Santa Cruz, at vhamilto@ucsc.edu. She is organizing a meeting for those who received summons. Additionally, she is filing grievances for all recipients (with the help of COLA UAW organizers at UC Santa Barbara).
We have the power to transform this university for us, our students, lecturers, and faculty! Let’s build power. Whose University? Our University!
As always, in solidarity,
Striking Graduate Students