Happy Monday, UA-UNM. It’s a big week for our union. Read on for Higher Education Labor United’s statewide kickoff Town Hall for equitable healthcare, plus more ways to become involved with your union.
Register to Attend the HELU Town Hall
Thursday, September 17th, 6pm MT
Did you know? Higher education faculty in New Mexico pay a larger share of their health insurance premiums than other public employees in the state?
This past legislative session, lawmakers passed HB47, mandating an 80/20 employer/employee health insurance split for K-12 public school employees. Higher ed employees were explicitly excluded.
Every year, employees at UNM and other New Mexico universities and colleges are paying more for the same kind of coverage because of where they work.
We invite you to help change that.
Join us this Thursday, September 17th for the Higher Education Labor United New Mexico Town Hall, where we’ll organize to bring 80/20 health coverage to higher ed employees statewide. For some UA-UNM faculty, this could mean up to a 50% cut in your premiums.
What would you do with your hard-earned money back in your pocket?
There are three ways to build power with us leading up to the meeting:
- Sign the petition to demand affordable healthcare.
- Register to attend the HELU-NM Town Hall that kicks off this fight.
- Fill out and share the HELU survey that gathers data and testimony to keep pressing for affordable coverage.
The petition, the survey, and Thursday’s Town Hall are how we plan to show UNM administration and state legislators that higher education employees stand together as they seek equitable healthcare coverage.
What is HELU?
Higher Education Labor United (HELU) is a national organization founded in 2021 to unite higher education workers across the country regardless of their specific union or job title. HELU is a coalition that helps local unions and worker groups unite in their challenges to build collective power that no single campus union could achieve.
Nationally, at least 70% of faculty are now in adjunct or contingent jobs and lack security and benefits available to their full-time counterparts. That’s according to HELU’S Vision Platform, which outlines challenges facing higher ed workers and envisions strategies for moving forward.
HELU-NM is the New Mexico chapter of this national coalition, connecting UNM faculty and staff with higher ed workers across the state and country to push for shared goals like the 80/20 health insurance split we’re fighting for now.
Steward Training
Have you ever wondered what it takes to be more involved in the union? Does collective action bring you joy? Consider becoming a steward. They are an essential part of UA-UNM as the union’s main decision-making body. Stewards represent faculty, explain contract rights, help with grievances, and more.
Whether you’re a current steward, or want to learn more, come train on the basics with fellow faculty members. Lunch will be provided. Email organizing@uaunm.org for more details and sign up for Steward Training on October 3, from 12:30-4pm.
In solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Upcoming Events
Thursday, September 17th, 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, September 17th, 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.
Thursday, September 17th, 6pm MT on Zoom
Register to attend the HELU-NM Town Hall that kicks off the statewide fight for more equitable healthcare coverage.
UA-UNM Steward Training, Saturday, October 3rd 12:30-4pm
Mark your calendars to attend UA-UNM Steward Training and become a point person for rank and file members and a decision maker within the union. Sign up for Steward Training.
General Membership Meeting, Tuesday, October 13, 5-7pm
General Membership Meeting – on the Albuquerque campus and on Zoom
Location and details TBD
Union Quote of the Week:
“I believe you should tell the story of injustices, of inequalities, of bad conditions, so that the people as a whole in this country really face the problems that people who are pushed to the point of striking know all about, but others know practically nothing about.“
– Eleanor Roosevelt at the Congress of Industrial Organizations Convention, 1943
