News

Now Hiring an Atlanta Organizer

UCWGA is hiring for a full time local organizer position in Atlanta. Are you interested in helping to grow and sustain UCWGA?

HB 1576: Public Sector Collective Bargaining in GA

UCWGA is proud to announce its support for House Bill 1576, which if enacted, would provide pub

Presidents' Report April 2022

After over thirty years without a cost of living adjustment, full-time University System of Georgia (USG) employees expect to see a significant increase in their paychecks as early as their April payday. Georgia legislators have included five thousand dollar salary raises for all full-time state employees, including benefitted USG employees.

UCWGA Executive Board election results

Please welcome the newly elected memebers of the UCWGA Executive Board:
President: Rebekah Ward
Vice President: Carina McGeehin
Treasurer: Joe Fu
Secretary: Rebecca Hill
At Large: Bryant K. Barnes, Matthew Fortunato, David Nickel, Jill Penn, Brett Tregoning
Congratulations to our new board. Stronger Together!

No Layoffs at KSU Petition Update and Media Round Up! (299 signatures and counting…)

As of today, the No Layoffs at KSU petition has 275 signatures from KSU workers, students, alumni, and concerned community members who are asking President Whitten to promise that no layoffs will occur at KSU as a result of the FY21 budget cuts. Since the petition was launched on June 16, we have delivered it once in person and twice electronically to keepPresident Whitten apprised of the strong and growing support our campaign is receiving.

Protect our international students!

We, faculty at institutions across the USG, condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision, announced Monday July 6th, that stipulates that International Students with F-1 and M-1 visas, “attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.” We are asking that the USG commits to protecting our international students from ICE proceedings and deportations if the USG were to shift to online-only instruction because of COVID-19 risks.

Protect our international students!

We, faculty at institutions across the USG, condemn the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) decision, announced Monday July 6th, that stipulates that International Students with F-1 and M-1 visas, “attending schools operating entirely online may not take a full online course load and remain in the United States.” We are asking that the USG commits to protecting our international students from ICE proceedings and deportations if the USG were to shift to online-only instruction because of COVID-19 risks.

UGWGA-UGA's Open Letter to President Morehead Urging Stronger Protections for Students and Workers

The UGA Chapter of UCWGA has written an open letter to President Morehead urging stronger protections including requiring face masks while indoors and allowing faculty, staff, and graduate students to work off campus when possible in order to help ensure the continuity of face-to-face instruction and protect the health and lives of faculty, staff, students, and the larger Athens community. 

UGA Faculty Member to University Officials: COVID-19 Is a Black Lives Matter Issue

I understand that UGA and the University System of Georgia, along with the rest of the world, are facing difficult decisions balancing public health with the need to carry on working. Any rational response must face the fact that reopening will represent at best a risky experiment. If we fail to take all reasonable precautions, the likely outcome will be a severe curtailment of campus life, and possibly a second shutdown. This would represent a still greater harm, not only to the university, but also to the Athens community that depends on UGA for so much of our economic life.

UCWGA-UGA Press Release on UGA Hosting the National Guard on Campus

United Campus Workers of Georgia at UGA denounces UGA hosting the National Guard on campus

“While the nation continues to call for defunding the police and the militarized state, UGA seems to remain oblivious and out of touch. On Saturday, June 6th, UGA passively allowed a convoy of armored vehicles to occupy the parking lot of the Performing Arts Center, and closed off parts of North Campus to host them. The National Guard deploying to Athens was prompted by the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement’s protest for justice for Black lives. 

KSU Chapter Petition: President Whitten, Promise NO Layoffs!

UCWGA KSU Chapter is calling on all KSU workers, students, and concerned community members to sign our petition calling on President Whitten to promise no layoffs. Read more below and click the link to add your name.

Dear President Whitten,

Will you do the right thing? Will you promise no layoffs?

Great news! There is no need for layoffs! The AJC reported on June 3rd, that Governor Kemp will be cutting USG’s budget by 11% instead of the 14% originally planned. While we know that 0% budget cuts to higher education is possible by removing unfair corporate tax breaks, we are glad to see that the Governor responded to the public’s pressure to support public services. KSU along with other USG institutions had already proposed budget cuts based on 14%. Included in those cuts were layoffs that would have saved KSU up to $3.1 million dollars. Luckily, we will need to cut $4.8 million less from KSU’s budget because of the decrease to 11%. This means that without a doubt, none of these proposed layoffs are necessary!