We hope you had a rejuvenating fall break. Welcome back, faculty.
Tomorrow night is our Fall General Membership Meeting, and there’s still time to register! Read on for details, plus upcoming trainings, election canvassing, and a steward who explains what solidarity means to him.
General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, October 13th, 5-7pm
At tomorrow’s General Membership Meeting, we want you there to weigh in on decisions that shape your work and paycheck. During the meeting, hear what’s happening with the new contracts, which are now public on the UA-UNM site, help set budget priorities, and learn how the statewide 80/20 healthcare campaign will move forward.
It’s not too late to register to attend.
The GMM is both on Zoom and in person on the Albuquerque campus in George Pearl Hall, Room P101. There will be food and beverages, plus childcare provided. Register to let us know you’re coming, and if you need childcare, accommodations, or have dietary restrictions. Happy hour to follow from 7-8pm at Flock of Moons.
AFT Street Medic Training
Saturday, Oct. 17 1-4pm
This weekend, learn essential emergency first aid for protests and direct actions. AFT is sponsoring Direct Action, Direct Care, a training that covers street medic skills, legal considerations, and triage. Earn a two-year certification Saturday, October 17, 1-4 pm, AFT NM Office. Register to attend.
Deb Haaland Canvassing Event
October 24, Albuquerque, NM
Join Labor members from across the state as we launch an early vote canvass and phone bank for our union’s endorsed candidate for governor, Deb Haaland! No experience necessary — come and make calls to other labor union homes or knock on labor union doors and share important information about labor-endorsed candidates with other union members. Doors open at 10am and the canvass/phone banks launch at 10:45am. Deb Haaland will be on hand to greet volunteers and kick off the day’s activities. Hosted at AFT NM union hall: 530 Jefferson Street NE, ABQ, NM 87108.
Workshop: Against the AI Campus: Building Power in Higher Ed
HELU and our partners in UIC United Faculty AFT Local 6456 are hosting a day-long deep dive into higher education, EdTech, and AI in Chicago. This workshop is aimed at understanding and producing contract language that protects workers; strategizing together to create a national organizing model against the technoligarchy; creating legislative frameworks locals can take to their state legislatures and Congress; and deepening workers’ understanding of the issue. If you are interested in going and would like financial support to attend, reach out to info@uaunm.org to learn more.
Friday the 13th Coffee Social
Friday, November 13 5-7pm
Meet your fellow union members over coffee at our UA-UNM Friday the 13th social hour at Little Bear Coffee in Nob Hill. Stop by and meet colleagues from across campus, try a delicious beverage, and find out what your union is up to. Register to attend.
Steward Spotlight
Dr. Albert José-Antonio López, Assistant Professor of Architecture and Planning History and a UA-UNM Organizing Fellow loves teaching the students at UNM by helping them find answers in their research, building their writing skills, and seeing them learn global history and the deep past of architecture, urbanism, and planning.
Albert says his love of teaching and research and his desire to protect his time for both of these made him realize the value of the Union. He said he views “the whole network of stewards, as the nervous system of the Union because we effectively become the ears, eyes, and other receptors of this organic body capable of hearing our fellow workers and their experiences in their departments.”
Albert says for him, “Solidarity is very simple: recognize that we’re workers and build a meaningful class-consciousness.” He says being a steward takes some work and time, but it’s also fun…not only because of the union community, but also because he is participating in something bigger than himself that affects the collective welfare of so many fellow educators and researchers.
In Solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Recurring Meetings and More Events!
General Membership Meeting, Tuesday, October 13, 5-7pm
George Pearl Hall, Room P101 on the Albuquerque campus and on Zoom. Register to attend.
Thursday, October 15th, 9:00-10:00am – 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.
Thursday, October 15th, 3:30-5:00pm – Organizing Committee Meeting – all campuses on Zoom
Help build our membership and train new leaders through organizing events and workshops
Email organizing@uaunm.org for the Zoom link and password.
Friday, November 13th 5-7pm, Coffee Social Hour
Mark your calendars for a UA-UNM Friday the 13th social hour at Little Bear Coffee in Nob Hill. Additional details to follow.
Wednesday, December 9th 4-6pm, Amalie Coffee
Mark your calendars for a UA-UNM finals week coffee social hour at Amalie Coffee across from Albuquerque Campus. Additional details to follow.
Union Quote of the Week:
The reinvention of daily life means marching off the edge of our maps.
– Lucy Parsons, radical anarchist, labor activist, and socialist.
