Can you believe it’s already week seven? We hope you are staying caught up with fall in full swing. We have also been busy with advocacy, trainings and more. Read on for the details.
Stewards’ Training
Saturday, October 3rd, 12:30-4pm, Main Campus Music Building, Room B117
All dues-paying members are invited to attend our upcoming Steward Training this Saturday. Whether you’re a current steward and would like to hone your skills, or you are new to UA-UNM and would like to learn more, come train on the basics with fellow faculty members. Follow the signs in the Popejoy Hall lobby to Room B117.
Stewards 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. They are the eyes and ears on the ground. Lunch will be provided. Email organizing@uaunm.org for more details and sign up for Steward Training.
Steward Spotlight
In this week’s installment of the Steward Spotlight, meet Dr. Erika Koren Nielson, Lecturer III in the Liberal Arts and Integrative Studies Department. Erika stepped up and became a steward because she wanted to get involved on campus, plus, there wasn’t one in her department. What she enjoys about working at UNM is academic freedom and autonomy. Solidarity to her is creating and sustaining community to best serve the needs and interests of many. This past summer, she taught a yoga class for union members, and she is looking forward to doing that again.
General Membership Meeting
Tuesday, October 13th from 5-7pm, George Pearl Hall P101 and on Zoom
This semester’s UA-UNM General Membership Meeting may be one of the most important union meetings bargaining unit members can attend. Whether you’re a long-time union member or brand new, this is a great opportunity to get plugged into our union’s work and to learn more. We’ll be sharing some important updates, including on arbitration and our organizing around healthcare costs. And we’ll be coming together to think about our values, including planning for our budget, where we’ll be brainstorming ways in which our union can use our resources to support faculty.
The meeting will be on Tuesday, October 13th from 5-7pm, on Zoom and in person on the Albuquerque campus in George Pearl Hall, Room P101. There will be food and beverages. Register to let us know you’re coming, and if you need any accommodations or have dietary restrictions.
After the GMM, join us for Happy Hour at Flock of Moons from 7-8pm. Flock of Moons is located south of main campus at 111 Harvard Dr SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106.
Mark Your Calendars
We also have two additional upcoming union events this semester. Mark your calendars for a Friday the 13th Social Hour planned at Little Bear in Nob Hill from 5-7pm; plus, enjoy caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages during finals week with a Finals’ Week Coffee Social at Amalie Coffee on Wednesday, December 9th from 4-6pm.
Write Your Legislators
Last week, we came together for our town hall on healthcare costs with a coalition of unions in higher ed (HELU-NM), kicking off a fight for an 80/20 health insurance match. The town hall was a great success, with 100 people on the call sharing their experiences and building solidarity.
Now it’s time to turn that energy into action as we get closer to the 2027 legislative session. Legislators need to hear from real people dealing with the cost of healthcare. You can use this template letter to reach your legislators, but personalize it with your own experience, for example, a bill you struggled to pay, a treatment you delayed, or a difficult financial choice you had to make. After you personalize your letter, find your legislators and their email addresses.
AAUP Webinar: Running an Issue Campaign
September 29, 1 p.m. ET on Zoom
The American Association of University Professors is UA-UNM’s national affiliate union, and they holding trainings and professional developments that you can access for free because of our partnership with AAUP. This week, learn how to plan a campaign around an issue that matters on campus by crafting strong demands, identifying targets, and using your leverage to plan escalating actions that help you win. As UA-UNM members may know, we are currently working on a legislative campaign to win 80/20 split for healthcare in all state institutions. This will be a great resource for folks to get involved! Register here.
In Solidarity,
United Academics of UNM
Upcoming Events
Thursday, October 1st, 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 1st, 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.
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
George Pearl Hall, Room P101 on the Albuquerque campus and on Zoom. Register to attend.
Union Quote of the Week:
“Remember that you are fighting more than your own fight. You are fighting for the entire working class and you must stand together”
– William Dudley “Big Bill” Haywood, to the striking mill workers in Lawrence, Massachusetts, 1912
