Some workers at Santa Cruz are planning a one-day sick-out action on Thursday, December 2, with an accompanying march and demonstration. Union members and leaders across the state support ASEs’ (i.e. Teaching Assistants, Tutors, and Readers) fight to address extreme rent burden and win housing stipends for ASEs.
It is also important to know that while ASEs have established rights to take sick days when we are sick, the University may request appropriate documentation (Article 17.I). Thus, while ASEs may participate in marches and demonstrations while not working, they cannot call in sick without a legitimate basis. ASEs who call in sick without a legitimate basis could be subject to discipline.
Furthermore, our ASE union (UAW 2865) is required by our contract and by the global settlement agreement regarding the 2020 Santa Cruz strike to let all of you know that under Article 19 of the contract, ASEs are not allowed to participate in “stoppages or interruptions of work, or other concerted activities which interfere directly or indirectly with University operations during the life of this agreement.” A sick-out is concerted activity that violates this article, and engaging in such activity may be subject to discipline in accordance with Article 8 of our union contract. The relevant language reads: “engaging in such activity may lead to disciplinary action, and… employees engaged in prohibited activity must cease such activity and immediately return to work.”
As fellow workers and union members, we wanted to make sure that you are fully aware of your rights under the union contract in the lead up to today’s action.
In solidarity,
UAW 2865 Executive Board
Rafael Jaime, President
Kavitha Iyengar, Northern Vice President
Yunyi Li, Southern Vice President
Gaby Barrios, Recording Secretary
Ved Vakharia, Financial Secretary
Natalie Barman, Sergeant at Arms
Wes Westerfield, Guide
Tania Osorio Harp, Trustee
Anh Diep, Trustree
Garrett Shishido-Strain, Trustee