Dear UA-UNM Colleagues,
Last Thursday, over a hundred workers across New Mexico gathered in the Rotunda of the State Capitol for Workers Day. Members of unions and community organizations, including the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, Teamsters 492, CWA 7076, the New Mexico Dream Team, and OLÉ spoke about how important it is for New Mexico’s decision-makers to prioritize workers over corporate greed and profit. UA-UNM Vice President of Unit 2, Beth Ratay, highlighted the exploitation of our adjunct and term-teacher faculty, calling on legislators to take seriously supporting these workers as they continue to educate and serve New Mexicans everyday.
And great to see so many of you at the welcome back coffee social on Friday!
We are following our union siblings in Minnesota and their important actions last Friday where they helped organize a city-wide general strike to protest the ICE occupation and show their support for immigrants and the Minneapolis community. Tens of thousands of Minnesotans joined the action last Friday, closing down businesses, schools, and roads in -10F windchills. We are inspired by and stand in solidarity with the people of Minneapolis as they continue to fight for a safe and just world.
Read on for many opportunities for your union involvement coming up in the next few weeks.
Help us build the power we need to protect academic freedom at UNM. The Academic Freedom Interest Meeting will be meeting on Wednesday Jan 28, 12–1 pm
https://unm.zoom.us/j/7956652445
Our working group has published an open letter to UNM admin with concrete proposals for how to protect academic freedom. We have secured endorsements from major UNM organizations and are now circulating a petition for individuals to sign. In this meeting, we will develop a plan to build the broad base we need to win these protections. Please join this important meeting. If you are interested in joining this working group, please fill out this interest form. Please also help us circulate our petition.
Everyone is invited to join UA-UNM Organizing Committee’s weekly meetings, which will be every Friday from 12:00–12:45 pm. The purpose of the Organizing Committee is to build our union power through membership engagement. Email organizing@uaunm.org for the Zoom link.
As always, remember to encourage your colleagues to join UA-UNM here and keep reading for a list of upcoming UA-UNM events.
In Solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Upcoming Events
Wednesday, January 28, 12:00–1:00 pm – Academic Freedom Interest Group Meeting – all campuses on Zoom
Join us to help build the power we need to protect academic freedom at UNM.
https://unm.zoom.us/j/7956652445
Thursday, January 29, 11:00 am–12:00 pm – Communications Committee Meeting – all campuses on Zoom
Join us to help share information with our members through weekly email updates, social media, our website, and union events.
Email info@uaunm.org for the Zoom link and password.
Friday, January 30, 12:00–12:45 pm – Organizing Committee – all campuses on Zoom
Help strengthen our union by encouraging more of your colleagues to get involved.
Email organizing@uaunm.org for the Zoom link and password.
Thursday, March 5, 5:00–6:30 pm – Spring 2026 General Membership Meeting
AFT New Mexico Office (530 Jefferson St NE, 87108)
Mark your calendars for our next General Membership Meeting! More details to come.
Union Quote of the Week
“It’s time for every single Minnesotan who loves this state and the notion of truth and freedom to raise their voices and deepen their solidarity for our neighbors and co-workers living under this federal occupation.”
— Chelsie Glaubitz Gabio, President of the Minneapolis Regional Labor Federation (AFL-CIO), on the January 23 General Strike in Minneapolis
Here’s the pledge that Minnesotans are signing via the May Day Strong Coalition.
