Day 1 Strike Update - Session Scheduled Tuesday
Dear members and supporters,
WE ARE OFF TO A GREAT START!! —(We hear “all caps” is the new thing!)
This is the Bargaining Committee reporting from the picket lines on day one of our strike! Our picket line is strong with union members, students, and allies marching in solidarity - and will remain strong as long as it takes. Although the College’s public messaging is negative and fear inducing, they quietly agreed to add another bargaining session on this Tuesday, April 1st, 1-3pm. LET’S SERIOUSLY PACK THE ROOM! Register for bargaining and strike duty for next week here.
You may have heard that the College has asked tenure line faculty to open spots to students taught by BUEs on strike, and emailed students to demand they enroll in these classes or risk losing credit. We understand that the College’s action induces fear and confusion – and that is exactly what it is meant to do. Wellesley College would rather that students transfer mid semester into a random class for half the credit in order to raise our workload by 25% and deny us job security and fair pay. There does not need to be any risk to our students’ full time enrollment or ability to graduate. After all, who controls these things? The College could end the strike today. Our bargaining committee has offered to bargain every day and every time with a comprehensive package on the table that the College can agree to and end these negotiations.
The College has the choice to negotiate with us to settle the contract, but instead they have chosen to spend their time and resources trying to break the strike. We have heard from many tenure-line faculty that they will not stand for this and we are confident in their solidarity. The College’s frantic tactics devalue the education that Wellesley promises our students and that our students and their support networks paid for. We need everyone–our students, members, and colleagues—to ask families, friends, and support networks to demand that the College negotiate with us to settle the strike and resume the education they deserve. You can find an example letter here, and the President’s office can be reached at 781-283-3347 and the Provost’s office can be reached at 781-283-3583.
In solidarity,
Erin, Deb, Mike, Katie, and Christa
