CGSU-UE Local 300 Strike & Hardship Fund

Academic workers are facing precarity and uncertainty - both in funding and support from our institutions. At this moment, we need the Cornell administration to fortify the research infrastructure of our University and defend researchers and teachers from these attacks on higher education. Instead, they are implementing austerity measures and impeding the negotiations that would secure critical protections for graduate workers on campus. A strong union with strong contract protections is the fundamental way to ensure graduate workers are secure and supported.

Now is the time to harness our union power and fight for the future of academia. We demand that Cornell rise to meet our needs as workers so we can conclude our negotiations. We are 3000 workers strong, and we’re ready to use our power to fight for the future of our jobs, our fields, and this institution.

We are launching a strike fund with the support of UE National and our peer UE grad shops, to ensure that we are prepared for a possible work stoppage. Contributions to this fund are welcome from anyone and in any amount. We encourage you to circulate the strike fund to your larger personal and professional network. We will always support and stand in solidarity with each other.

Issues Still on the Table

Union shop is the foundation of our union’s strength and longevity. This powerful provision shifts the power from the Cornell administration to graduate workers. All graduate workers will receive the protections and benefits we win in our contract and are able to enforce. When we have Union Shop, which allows for universal membership, every worker will contribute their fair share to our collective benefits and have equal power to vote for our collective future.

Just cause standards ensure that grad workers are respected and cannot be disciplined or fired without due process. Just cause will make academia safer, which is all too needed at a time where academic work is under threat from the current federal administration, DEI protections are being eliminated, and the funding landscape is changing daily. Cornell should choose to value grads enough to give us real and lasting job security in the form of just cause protections.

We are calling on Cornell to meet the demands of our economic proposals through a fair wage that actually allows us to afford living in Ithaca, subsidized transportation passes, and access to dental and vision insurance. If Cornell values the immense labor and contributions that grad workers provide, they should support economic benefits that give us dignity in our livelihoods. Between grading exams, conducting experiments, and preparing for discussion sections, we should not have to worry about having enough money to pay rent or buy groceries.

Having the strength to fight against unfair discipline is critical in our union’s capacity to protect marginalized workers, particularly queer and international workers who are facing precarity from the federal government. These issues are of utmost importance, and we are going to continue fighting for a contract that the grad workers of Cornell deserve!

By fighting for a contract that enshrines union shop and just cause, and that provides economic security for graduate workers, we are fighting for a future in which we are protected, respected, and valued by our institution.

Donor Wall 27

Andrea | $100

Solidarity to my fellow grads. Those here now and those to come

Anonymous | $50

Anso Bayan | $25

“We aren’t making this “dual-track” proposal to prevent you from getting the terms we are offering” lol — thank you, next

Ben Wrubel

Jason Kahabka | $10

I’m so sorry for everything, hope you win xx

Katheryn Boor | $10

We should pay you more but we want you to have “skin in the game”

Bee Movie Imitator | $11

scary. Welcome to Honex, a division of Honesco and a part of the Hexagon Group. This is it! Wow. Wow. We know that you, as a bee, have worked your whole life to get to the point where you can work for your whole life. Honey begins when our valiant Pollen Jocks bring the nectar to the hive. Our top-secret formula is automatically color-corrected, scent-adjusted and bubble-contoured into this soothing sweet syrup with its distinctive golden glow you know as... Honey! - That girl was hot. - She's my cousin! - She is? - Yes, we're all cousins. - Right. You're right. - At Honex, we constantly strive to improve every aspect of bee existence. These bees are stress-testing a new helmet technology. - What do you think he makes? - Not enough. Here we have our latest advancement, the Krelman. - What does that do? - Oatches that little strand of honey that hangs after you pour it. Saves us millions. Oan anyone work on the Krelman? Of course. Most bee jobs are small ones. But bees know that every small job, if it's done well, means a lot. But choose carefully because you'll stay in the job you pick for the rest of your life. The same job the rest of your life? I didn't know that. What's the difference? You'll be happy to know that bees, as a species, haven't had one day off in 27 million years. So you'll just work us to death? We'll sure try. Wow! That blew my mind! "What's the difference?" How can you say that? One job forever? That's an insane choice to have to make. I'm relieved. Now we only have to make one decision in life. But, Adam, how could they never have told us that? Why would you question anything? We're bees. We're the most perfectly functioning society on Earth. You ever think maybe things work a little too well here? Like what? Give me one example. I don't know. But you know what I'm talking about. Please clear the gate. Royal Nectar Force on approach. Wait a second. Check it out. - Hey, those are Pollen Jocks! - Wow. I've never seen them this close.

Bee Movie | $10

According to all known laws of aviation, there is no way a bee should be able to fly. Its wings are too small to get its fat little body off the ground. The bee, of course, flies anyway because bees don't care what humans think is impossible. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Yellow, black. Ooh, black and yellow! Let's shake it up a little. Barry! Breakfast is ready! Ooming! Hang on a second. Hello? - Barry? - Adam? - Oan you believe this is happening? - I can't. I'll pick you up. Looking sharp. Use the stairs. Your father paid good money for those. Sorry. I'm excited. Here's the graduate. We're very proud of you, son. A perfect report card, all B's. Very proud. Ma! I got a thing going here. - You got lint on your fuzz. - Ow! That's me! - Wave to us! We'll be in row 118,000. - Bye! Barry, I told you, stop flying in the house! - Hey, Adam. - Hey, Barry. - Is that fuzz gel? - A little. Special day, graduation. Never thought I'd make it. Three days grade school, three days high school. Those were awkward. Three days college. I'm glad I took a day and hitchhiked around the hive. You did come back different. - Hi, Barry. - Artie, growing a mustache? Looks good. - Hear about Frankie? - Yeah. - You going to the funeral? - No, I'm not going. Everybody knows, sting someone, you die. Don't waste it on a squirrel. Such a hothead. I guess he could have just gotten out of the way. I love this incorporating an amusement park into our day. That's why we don't need vacations. Boy, quite a bit of pomp... under the circumstances. - Well, Adam, today we are men. - We are! - Bee-men. - Amen! Hallelujah! Students, faculty, distinguished bees, please welcome Dean Buzzwell. Welcome, New Hive Oity graduating class of... ...9:15. That concludes our ceremonies. And begins your career at Honex Industries! Will we pick ourjob today? I heard it's just orientation. Heads up! Here we go. Keep your hands and antennas inside the tram at all times. - Wonder what it'll be like? - A little

Pen | $25

Solidarity!!

Jack Nobel | $30

Jorge DeFendini | $25

Solidarity Forever 🫡

David | $150

Supporting Z!

Arnav | $50

Union Shop and Just Cause!!!

Nayantara Joseph

Jess Goldberg | $50

Solidarity from a CGSU alum ✊ (English PhD, 2018)

Malcolm | $50

Sending Solidarity from a member of the Canadian union of professional employees (CAPE) 💜

H | $10/M

Havi Rojer | $25

Union Strong!!!

Charlotte Albunio | $25

Solidarity forever!!!

Connor Davis | $25

Booooooo be booooooooo bong be booooooong be booking bong be bong bi bi bi bi bi be bong bi bi bi bi bong be booooooong bi bi bi be boooong bi bi bi

Anonymous | $50

juntas somos invencibles <3

Jenna | $50

It's a rich man's game no matter what they call it, and you spend your life puttin' money in his wallet"

Claire | $100

Emmy | $25

🔥🔥🔥

Anonymous | $1,000

Solidarity forever!!!

Ben | $100

lets goooooo