LEO Solidarity Digests

An archive of the solidarity digests sent to Lecturers during the Unrest surrounding the Covid Crisis

LEO Solidarity Digest -- January 12, 2020

LEO’s Contract Bargaining starts this Friday, which means this will be the last Solidarity Digest we publish for a while. Moving forward, we will publish weekly Bargaining Updates that will inform lecturers on the progress of negotiations and how members can participate to help win a strong contract. These updates will sometimes include solidarity actions and updates from allies.

  • LEO Bargaining starts this Friday, January 15! Let us know you can make it by RSVPing here: bit.ly/LEOREGISTER. Here’s a quick itinerary of the big day:

    • 9:30am: Join allies and LEO members for the Zoom Rally: bit.ly/LEOKickoff

    • 10:30am: Bargaining starts. Register to receive the Zoom at bit.ly/LEOBargaining

    • 12 noon to 1:00pm: Lunch with LEO. Join the virtual lunch, and every bargaining caucus, over Zoom at bit.ly/LEOCaucus.

    • 1:00pm: Negotiations resume and continue through the afternoon with intermittent breaks on Zoom at bit.ly/LEOBargaining.

  • Look out for an email from campus chairs tomorrow with a more complete itinerary of Friday’s kickoff and the information you will need to attend virtual LEO bargaining sessions.

  • It’s not too late to join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help in the planning of the Bargaining Kickoff and beyond. You can help win a strong contract through public actions to put pressure on the Administration. Email: ashlee@leounion.org for more information.

  • A number of LEO committees will be supporting the important bargaining work in the upcoming semester. Fill out this form if you’re interested in building power in your union. 

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Let your students know you’re a Lecturer! Here is a tutorial on how to add the LEO Logo to your Canvas sites: https://bit.ly/AddLEOLogo It’s important for our members to find a variety of ways to make our presence known. Here’s a similar tutorial to add the LEO Logo to your Blackboard site for folks on the Flint Campus: http://bit.ly/AddLEOLogo_BB

  • There is plenty of money left in the LEO Professional Development Funds on all three campuses, to use on technology, workshops, and more to support your teaching. Apply now at these links for funds in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. 

  • You can make sure you continue to receive LEO bargaining updates and other communications to your inbox, instead of your spam or promotions folders, by following these easy steps: https://bit.ly/_LEO_Gmail_Filter.

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Campuswide working groups will begin meeting following last semester’s People’s Regents Meeting hosted by the All Campus Labor Council(ACLC). Our ultimate goal is to develop a People’s Agenda and Budget to advocate for a more just university by early April, 2021. Previous events  by the ACLC have been he All Campus Speakout & the Popular Education Workshop on Money at UM.  You can contact Craig Regester at reegman@gmail.com if you’re interested in any of these four important areas: 

    • 1) UM’s Covid-19 Response, 

    • 2) Investing in workers, students, and patients, 

    • 3) Campus Safety, 

    • 4) UM’s Responsibility in the Community. 

LEO Solidarity Digest -- January 5, 2020

The Solidarity Digest will be shifting focus once LEO’s Contract Bargaining begins. This digest was born out of a need to keep our members informed about what was happening on our campuses vis-a-vis the 9-day strike by our sister union GEO as well as the subsequent strikes & work actions by undergraduate student workers of Residence Staff and Michigan Dining. We will be providing weekly Bargaining Updates to members as well as a separate digest for LEO allies on campus and beyond with guides for how they can show their solidarity with us!

  • The LEO Bargaining Kickoff has been pushed back to January 15th! RSVP here: bit.ly/LEOKickoffRSVP 

    • It’s not too late to join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help in the planning of the Bargaining Kickoff and beyond. You can help win a strong contract through public actions to put pressure on the Administration. Email: ashlee@leounion.org for more information.

    • A number of LEO committees will be supporting the important bargaining work in the upcoming semester. Fill out this form if you’re interested in building power in your union. 

  • Did you know that LEO has a Youtube channel? We do, but it doesn’t have an attractive or memorable URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0doT3eFceEc6C4SAAZsrg
    How can we get a better address? We need at least 100 subscribers before we’ll be eligible for a customized address. We’re up to 60 subscribers, so we need at least 40 more lecturers to subscribe to our channel before January 15th so we can be easily found once bargaining begins! And check out our first in a series of videos​ posted today.

  • Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org for more information.

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org for more information.

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org for more information.


NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Let your students know you’re a Lecturer! Here is a tutorial on how to add the LEO Logo to your Canvas sites: https://bit.ly/AddLEOLogo It’s important for our members to find a variety of ways to make our presence known. A similar tutorial for Blackboard is underway for folks on the Flint Campus!

  • There is plenty of money left in the LEO Professional Development Funds on all three campuses, to use on technology, workshops, and more to support your teaching. Apply now at these links for funds in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, and Flint. 

  • You can make sure you continue to receive LEO bargaining updates and other communications to your inbox, instead of your spam or promotions folders, by following these easy steps: https://bit.ly/_LEO_Gmail_Filter.

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • Please contact brianna@leounion.org if you’re interested in joining the 1U Steering Committee. Or join the bi-weekly meetings on Wednesday at 4:30-6:00 via Zoom, starting tomorrow, January 6th. 

  • The U-M Climate Action Movement (CAM) is a coalition of students, staff, faculty, alumni, donors and Ann Arbor community leaders that are driving the President, Regents, and Deans to enact sustainability policy and ethics that reflect the values of the broader U-M community with a focus on the commitment to, and attainment of, carbon neutrality. CAM serves as an independent group to hold the University accountable for its commitments and achievements.


LEO Solidarity Digest -- December 15, 2020

This will be the last Solidarity Digest of 2020. We hope you all have a safe and relaxing holiday break. We will be back in 2021, rested and ready for LEO’s contract campaign.

  • The LEO Bargaining Kickoff has been pushed back to January 15th! RSVP here: https://aftmi.knack.com/data#leo-events-page/

    • It’s not too late to join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help in the planning of the Bargaining Kickoff and beyond. You can help win a strong contract through public actions to put pressure on the Administration. Email: ashlee@leounion.org for more information.

  • If you have not done so already, the COVID Caucus is requesting that you fill out this mental health survey: https://bit.ly/HowAreYouLEO. The survey closes this Friday, 12/18.

  • Let your students know you’re a Lecturer! Here is a tutorial on how to add the LEO Logo to your Canvas sites: https://bit.ly/AddLEOLogo It’s important for our members to find a variety of ways to make our presence known. A similar tutorial for Blackboard is underway for folks on the Flint Campus!

  • Did you know that LEO has a Youtube channel? We do, but it doesn’t have an attractive or memorable URL: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx0doT3eFceEc6C4SAAZsrg
    How can we get a better address? We need at least 100 subscribers before we’ll be eligible for a customized address. We’re currently @ 40 subscribers, so we need at least 60 lecturers to subscribe to our channel before January 15th so we can be easily found once bargaining begins! 


NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)


RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)


SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • Please contact brianna@leounion.org if you’re interested in joining the 1U Steering Committee. Our final meeting for the semester will be held this Thursday from 1-2:30 on Zoom. 

  • Campuswide working groups will begin meeting following this semester’s All Campus Labor Council Events of the All Campus Speakout, the Popular Education workshop on Money at UM, and the People’s Regents Meeting.  You can contact Craig Regester at reegman@gmail.com if you’re interested in any of these four important areas: 1) UM’s Covid-19 Response, 2) Investing in workers, students, and patients, 3) Campus Safety, and 4) UM’s Responsibility in the Community. Our ultimate goal is to develop a People’s Agenda and Budget by early April 2021.

LEO Solidarity Digest -- December 8, 2020

  • Join the Contract Action Team (CAT) to help us win a strong contract through public actions to put pressure on the University. The first meeting will be Dec 14th at 4pm on zoom​. Email: ashlee@leounion.org for more information. 

  • We’re narrowing in on some slogans for our bargaining campaign, please vote on your favorites as well as suggest some of your own HERE.

  • The COVID Caucus is requesting that you fill out this mental health survey: https://bit.ly/HowAreYouLEO You can read the summary from the 1st 60 respondents on LEO’s Blog. We are hoping to get at least 10% of all lecturers to fill it out, about 150 lecturers in total, over the next two weeks. We want to know how our coworkers are doing. We also believe the data will strengthen our case for greater workplace support and protections in LEO’s upcoming contract negotiations.

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Weekly GEO COVID Response Panel: Every Thursday from 12-1pm, GEO will be hosting a Facebook Live event featuring employees & students from UM. The next one will be Dec 3rd and will focus on housing issues in Ann Arbor. LEO members are invited to participate! Please reach out to GEO member Jeff Lockhart: j.williamlockhart@gmail.com

  • GEO is still collecting testimonials from our on- and off-campus communities regarding the Fall Term and the upcoming plans for Winter Term. If you'd like to submit a testimonial (anonymously or otherwise) do so with this form: https://forms.gle/JiFSimbPMsxhhoJz6

  • Is your rent too high? Is your landlord a scumbag? Do you want to protect your neighbors and your community? The Ann Arbor Tenants Union is having an introductory meeting this Sunday, December 13 at 6-8pm, via Zoom to plan for our strategy in the coming year. If you are a renter in Washtenaw County interested in getting involved with us, please mark your calendar for this meeting, it’s a great moment to join us!


SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • Please contact brianna@leounion.org if you’re interested in joining the 1U Steering Committee. 

    • ​The One University Dearborn group will be celebrating the many 1U victories of the semester and share a little bit more about the campaign. It will take place on Monday, December 14th from 4:30-5:30 on Zoom: bit.ly/1UDCelebration. The aim of this event is to get more students and faculty involved moving forward.

LEO Solidarity Digest -- December 1, 2020

  • Our next round of Collective Bargaining starts January 8th! You can read our bargaining platform in full here. Our recent LEO Convention slides contain some of the presentations given in the meeting. Note the links to some of the reference materials within the “speaker notes”

    • Help us win the contract that we want: fill out this Commit Form

    • Join us on this Saturday, December 5th from 2-5pm for a Campaign Strategy Planning Session. RSVP here: bit.ly/LEOREGISTER 

  • Our sister union GEO has agreed to meet with us again to help us understand better the logistics of virtual bargaining and how to organize a mostly remote contract campaign, since they've had experience doing it two times (!) since March. We will meet Tuesday, December 8, 1:15-2:15pm. RSVP here: bit.ly/LEOREGISTER  

  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org for more information.

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org for more information.

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org for more information.

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Weekly GEO COVID Response Panel: Every Thursday from 12-1pm, GEO will be hosting a Facebook Live event featuring employees & students from UM. The next one will be Dec 3rd and will focus on housing issues in Ann Arbor. LEO members are invited to participate! Please reach out to GEO member Jeff Lockhart: j.williamlockhart@gmail.com

  • GEO is still collecting testimonials from our on- and off-campus communities regarding the Fall Term and the upcoming plans for Winter Term. If you'd like to submit a testimonial (anonymously or otherwise) do so with this form: https://forms.gle/JiFSimbPMsxhhoJz6

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • The One University Steering Committee, which is made up of students and instructors on all 3 campuses, meets every other Wednesday from 7-8:30pm via Zoom. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 2nd. All are welcome to attend.

    • The One University Flint group will hold an event this Thursday, December 3rd at 6pm to celebrate the campaign’s recent victories, talk about the power of organizing, and learn about new services available to UM-Flint students. Link: https://umich.zoom.us/j/94831538181

    • The One University Dearborn group will also be celebrating the many 1U victories of the semester and share a little bit more about the campaign. The aim of this event is to get more students and faculty involved moving forward. Link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2849201004

LEO Solidarity Digest -- November 24, 2020

  • Our next round of Collective Bargaining starts January 8th! You can read our bargaining platform in full here. Our recent LEO Convention slides contain some of the presentations given in the meeting. Note the links to some of the reference materials within the “speaker notes”

    • Help us win the contract that we want: fill out this Commit Form

    • Please let us know about your Convention experience/your feedback on the platform in this quick survey.

  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org for more information.

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org for more information.

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org for more information.

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Weekly GEO COVID Response Panel: Every Thursday from 12-1pm, GEO will be hosting a Facebook Live event featuring employees & students from UM. The next one will be Dec 3rd and will focus on housing issues in Ann Arbor. LEO members are invited to participate! Please reach out to GEO member Jeff Lockhart: j.williamlockhart@gmail.com

  • GEO is still collecting testimonials from our on- and off-campus communities regarding the Fall Term and the upcoming plans for Winter Term. If you'd like to submit a testimonial (anonymously or otherwise) do so with this form: https://forms.gle/JiFSimbPMsxhhoJz6

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • The One University Steering Committee, which is made up of students and instructors on all 3 campuses, meets every other Wednesday from 7-8:30pm via Zoom. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, December 2nd. All are welcome to attend.

    • The One University Dearborn group has a regular meeting time for the remainder of the semester every other Monday from 4:30-5:30. Their next meeting will be Monday, November 30th via Zoom. Dearborn lecturers are encouraged to attend. 

    • The One University Flint Group meets every Monday from 4-5pm. If Flint lecturers are interested in attending, please email tdenson@leounion.org.  

LEO Solidarity Digest -- November 17, 2020

  • Over 130 members attended LEO’s Annual Convention this past Saturday (11/14). Those participating voted overwhelmingly to accept the bargaining platform and to authorize the Bargaining Team to negotiate the proposals. In addition, next year’s budget and three amendments to the LEO constitution passed unanimously.

    • You can read the bargaining platform in full here. The Convention slides contain some of the presentations given in the meeting. Note the links to some of the reference materials within the “speaker notes”

    • Help us win the contract that we want: fill out this Commit Form

    • Please let us know about your Convention experience/your feedback on the platform in this quick survey.


  • At a recent meeting of the Bargaining subcommittee on Workload, members expressed some of the ways that intensified workload has compromised their wellbeing, such as:

    • working every day of the week and at all hours of the day,

    • balancing work and care, sometimes working very late into the night in order to complete required tasks,

    • feeling constant pressure to violate boundaries between work and personal time,

    • and supporting students dealing with mental health crises, family emergencies, housing insecurity, insurance-related questions, and more.

  • Recognizing that Covid has put lecturers in position to help students in ways we are not trained or paid to do, the Workload group agreed that LEO should support on-campus efforts to increase CAPs funding to meet increasing student need for emotional support. If you would like to help with this work, please contact Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org.



  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org for more information.

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org for more information.

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org for more information.

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)


RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Weekly GEO COVID Response Panel: Every Thursday from 12-1pm, GEO will be hosting a Facebook Live event featuring employees & students from UM. LEO members are invited to participate! Please reach out to GEO member Jeff Lockhart: j.williamlockhart@gmail.com

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • All Campus Labor Council (ACLC) will be hosting The People’s Regents Meeting, on November 19th from 3:30-5:00 pm (RSVP here). The event will present an alternative to Board of Regents Meetings that will be worker, scholar, student, and community member oriented and attendees will develop a People Over Profits agenda for the university. If you have any questions please reach out to brianna@leounion.org. 

  • With the adoption of our bargaining platform and the focus on pay parity and increased funding to Dearborn and Flint campuses, there is no better time than now to get involved with the One University campaign:

    • The One University Steering Committee, which is made up of students and instructors on all 3 campuses, meets every other Wednesday from 7-8:30pm via Zoom. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 18th. All are welcome to attend.

    • The One University Dearborn group has a regular meeting time for the remainder of the semester every other Monday from 4:30-5:30. Their next meeting will be Monday, November 30th via Zoom. Dearborn lecturers are encouraged to attend. 

    • The One University Flint Group meets every Monday from 4-5pm. If Flint lecturers are interested in attending, please email tdenson@leounion.org.  

LEO Solidarity Digest -- November 10, 2020

  • We are so proud of our fellow LEO members who've run for public office! Their commitment to public service shows how powerful an impact us educators can make outside the classroom. Unfortunately, Sheryl Kennedy from the UM-Flint campus was not re-elected to her Michigan State House seat, MI-48 in Genesee County. It was a very tight race and her opponent only won by 490 votes! Sheryl has fought for education, labor, and healthcare during her two years in the Michigan House and co-founded the bipartisan Education Caucus. Should she run again we hope that LEO members can continue to show their support for her.

  • Other Lecturers who ran for public office and won include:

  • LEO’s Annual Convention is Saturday, Nov 14th, 2-5pm.  At the convention, members will discuss and vote on these three constitutional amendments, the proposed 2021 budget, as well as our Bargaining Platform. Register for the Convention HERE.

  • We will need to organize to win the platform members vote for at the Convention. You can participate by joining the Contract Action Team, which will plan campaign actions that will help the union build power during negotiations. If you are curious about CAT or want to be invited to the first meeting, please contact Alex at alex@leounion.org.

  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. The next meeting will be held Thursday, November 12th from 3-4:https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88040733539. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org for more information.

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org for more information.

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. The next meeting will be on Friday, November 13th from 10-11am: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89361190019. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org for more information.

NEWS:  (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)


RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • Weekly GEO COVID Response Panel: Every Thursday from 12-1pm, GEO will be hosting a Facebook Live event featuring employees & students from UM. This Thursday, November 12, LEO President Ian Robinson will speak. LEO members can participate by reaching out to GEO member Jeff Lockhart: j.williamlockhart@gmail.com

SOLIDARITY STEPS:  (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • All Campus Labor Council (ACLC) will be hosting The People’s Regents Meeting, on November 19th from 3:30-5:00 pm (RSVP here). The event will present an alternative to Board of Regents Meetings that will be worker, scholar, student, and community member oriented and attendees will develop a People Over Profits agenda for the university. If you’d like to be involved in the planning process please reach out to brianna@leounion.org.

LEO Solidarity Digest - Election Day 11/3

Don’t forget to turn in your absentee ballot by 8pm this evening to your local election clerk’s office or head to the polls and vote in person. See MI SOS for more info.

  • For absentee ballots, DO NOT mail your ballots. Drop off directly at your local clerk's office. Your ballot will not be counted unless your signature is on the return envelope and matches your signature on file.

  • If you or someone you know isn’t registered to vote, you/they can still do that up to and on election day! See this for more info.

  • Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. local time. You have the right to vote if you are in line by 8 p.m. You can find your polling place here. If you experience or witness any voter suppression or problems at the polls call 866-OUR-VOTE.

  • Use WAVE Michigan to reach out to friends and neighbors. There are still many ballots that haven’t been turned in! contact those you know and give them a friendly reminder!

More info:

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFL-CIO Endorsements: put in your address to find your local union endorsements and ways to take action.


Help ensure democracy and fair and safe elections:

Resources for Students:


Speaking of voting...

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)


RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)


SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)


  • Attend the Count Every Vote: Celebrate Community & Practice Democracy event on the Diag of Ann Arbor’s Central Campus, November 4th @ 4pm. The Interfaith Council for Justice and Peace in collaboration with the Washtenaw Action Council is hosting a We Make Michigan event the day after the election to promote the democratic process and ensure that every vote gets counted!

  • On Friday, November 7th, nation-wide mobilizations to demand that every vote counts will be held. Please reserve the time to do one of these local actions in your calendar. Depending on how close the MI race is, and how many mail-in ballots are challenged, there may be a need to mobilize on a massive scale to demand that every vote be counted. More details to follow for the local events:

    • Detroit, 2pm -- location TBA

    • Lansing, 5pm -- location TBA

  • All Campus Labor Council (ACLC) will be hosting The People’s Regents Meeting, on November 19th from 3:30-5:00 pm (RSVP here). The event will present an alternative to Board of Regents Meetings that will be worker, scholar, student, and community member oriented and attendees will develop a People Over Profits agenda for the university. If you’d like to be involved in the planning process please reach out to brianna@leounion.org.

LEO Solidarity Digest - One Week to Election Day! Electoral Edition and other updates 10/27

Don’t forget to request, fill out, and turn in your ballot! Go in person to your local clerk to get your ballot, turn it in to the clerk or your local dropbox, or show up to the polls on Nov 3. See MI SOS for more info. And remember: 

  • Nov. 2: Last day to pick up an absentee ballot at your local clerk’s office by 4 p.m. Voted ballots must be received by 8pm on Election Day, Nov 3, in order to be counted.

  • You may submit your application either in person or by mail to your City/Township Clerk's office. Check with your local clerk to find out about drop box locations.

  • If you or someone you know isn’t registered to vote, you/they can still do that up to and on election day! See this for more info.

More info:

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFL-CIO Endorsements: put in your address to find your local union endorsements and ways to take action

Election Poll Workers are still needed! Sign up here.

 

Are you helping to get out the vote? There’s still time to help get as many ballots turned in as possible for education, labor, and democracy itself. Please take some time this week to:

  • Join SPACE Cmte (Solidarity, Political Action, & Community Engagement) to help GOTV for Sheryl Kennedy Sat., 10/31, 11AM:

    • Phone Bank (contact Tyrice Denson tdenson@leounion.org)

    • In-person canvassing (contact Jill Darling jill.darling@gmail.com)

    • Sheryl Kennedy is a lecturer in the Public Administration Program, College of Arts & Sciences on the Flint campus and is also the incumbent state representative for Michigan’s 48th State House District. She is in a tough reelection campaign to serve parts of Genesee County to the North and East of Flint. Help her fight for education and working families.

  • Download AFT Votes and join others in last-minute volunteer events:

  • Join LEO SPACE members to help get out the vote for Sheryl Kennedy: You can sign up for times to help out here.

  • Use WAVE Michigan to reach out to friends and neighbors. There are still many ballots that haven’t been turned in! contact those you know and give them a friendly reminder!

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that you and your students can get to your polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

Resources for Students:


Help ensure democracy and fair and safe elections:

  • Sign & share the pledge to defend democracy (bit.ly/WeMakeMI)

  • Sign up to be a spokesperson or storyteller

  • Sign up to be a poll watcher or poll challenger on Election Day

  • Follow the We Make Michigan Facebook page and be ready to mobilize.


SOLIDARITY STEPS:

  • Regents Meeting 10/22: If you missed the recent Regents meeting, you can watch it here. The speaker comments start at 1:06:00. A number of lecturers and students spoke against austerity cuts in Dearborn and Flint and in support of the One University campaign.

  • International LEO Town Hall: 11/2, 6PM: The International Caucus of LEO invites you to attend a Town Hall to discuss draft proposals the caucus has developed for the upcoming contract negotiations. Non-international lectures are also welcome to join the forum. Please RSVP for the 11/2 Town Hall at bit.ly/LEOREGISTER.

  • LEO’s Annual Member Convention:11/14, 2-5PM. This is where we will vote on our Bargaining Platform, Budget, & Amendments to our Constitution. Please RSVP at bit.ly/LEOREGISTER.

  • #UMCourage: If you have been deeply troubled by recent sexual harassment scandals at Michigan and with the university's tepid response consider signing THIS PETITION. The signers want to support the victims and urge the university to be courageous as they grapple with change and reconciliation. Please feel free to share widely. 

 

NEWS:


LEO Solidarity Digest- Updates for 10/20/20

  • Regents Meeting 

  • LEO Meeting/ACLC meeting with Schlissel

  • People’s Regents Meeting 

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES courtesy of the SPACE Committee!

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Covid Caucus 

  • A People’s Regents Meeting: 11/19th 3:30-5:00PM. The All Campus Labor Council (ACLC) will be hosting a People’s Regents Meeting on November 19th as an alternative to the conventional Board of Regents Meetings that will be worker, student, and community member oriented and will present  People Over Profits

BARGAINING SOMETHING:

LEO Solidarity Digest- Updates for 10/20/20

  • Washtenaw County just announced a Stay In Place Order for UM-Ann Arbor students. Some of the exemptions include: 

    • Students will be allowed to attend in-person classes, including instructional labs.

    • Students will be allowed to leave their room/residence for the purpose of picking up food/basic needs, medical appointments, voting at polling places, attending religious practice activities, or obtaining COVID-19 testing. 

    • Students will be allowed to attend work with the approval of the employer, if the work cannot be done remotely. 

    • Students who are associated with intercollegiate varsity sports may attend practices and competitions. 

  • Sheryl Kennedy is a lecturer in the Public Administration Program, College of Arts & Sciences on the Flint campus and is also the incumbent state representative for Michigan’s 48th State House District. She is in a tough reelection campaign to serve parts of Genesee County to the North and East of Flint. Help us help her fight for education and working families. You can sign up for times to help out here.

  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org

  • Successful picketing against non-unionized labor last week! During the construction of the new Dance Building on North Campus in Ann Arbor, members of GEO joined the Sprinkler Fitters Local 704 on the picket lines last week to protest the contracting of non-union workers. After several days a tentative agreement was made and the picketing ended as of this week. As far as we know the rest of the contracted labor for the construction project is all unionized.


NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES courtesy of the SPACE Committee!

Don’t forget to request, fill out, and turn in your ballot! Go to MI SOS for more info. And remember: 

  • The last day to request an absentee ballot is 4 days before the election (October 30, 2020). Voted ballots must be received by Election Day in order to be counted.

  • You may submit your application either in person or by mail to your City/Township Clerk's office. Check with your local clerk to find out about drop box locations.

  • After receiving your absentee ballot, you have until 8pm on Election Day to complete and return the ballot to your clerk's office.

More info:

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFL-CIO Endorsements: put in your address to find your local union endorsements and ways to take action

Get Involved:

  • Join LEO SPACE members to help get out the vote for Sheryl Kennedy: You can sign up for times to help out here.

  • Use AFT Votes to get involved, get election info, and help GOTV for labor and education. Download the app to find local actions (including virtual!) that you can take part in.

  • Use WAVE Michigan to reach out to friends and neighbors and remind them to turn in their applications and ballots early.

  • Sign up to be a poll worker on Nov 3

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that you and your students can get to your polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Covid is exploding in the dorms, sign the new petition from MDining Hall Workers

  • Over 60 participants joined last Friday’s Popular Education Workshop on Money at UM. If you were unable to attend but would like to receive a recording of the event, email brianna@leounion.org. The next ACLC event will be the People’s Regents’ Meeting on 11/19 from 3:30-5:00pm. Fill out THIS FORM if you’re interested in helping to plan/attend. 

  • Dearborn LEO and TT faculty will gather for town hall Thursday 10/22, 6-7pm to discuss management’s proposed cuts to summer pay compensation. Dearborn lecturers are encouraged to RSVP HERE

  • Three Dearborn lecturers, two Flint lecturers, and three Dearborn students will speak at the Regents meeting on Thursday, 4:30pm about austerity, layoffs, and more equitable financial support from central admin to their two campuses. Watch HERE

LEO Solidarity Digest- Updates for 10/13/20

  • Mosher-Jordan (“Mojo”) dining hall on Central Campus Ann Arbor will open to dine-in service starting next week Monday 20th. “Mojo” is a dorm that was one of the COVID clusters in the past 2 weeks. As of this email the COVID Dashboard has not been updated since Oct 4th and the dorm specific data has not been updated in 10 days. If you find this disconcerting, please consider signing this petition in support of the Dining Hall workers to put a halt to dine-in services to prevent further spread.

  • There are different ways to participate in organizing activities that help to make our union strong. Consider joining one of these caucuses that might be specific to your individual workplace challenges:

    • COVID Caucus: for discussing the real-time impact of COVID on Lecturers and the broader campus community. Email Alex Elkins at alex@leounion.org

    • International Caucus: for international Lecturers and concerns related to UM’s international campus communities. Email international@leounion.org

    • Parents Caucus: to help address the specific needs of Lecturers with children in the lead up to bargaining. Email Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org

  • The Workload Subcommittee of the Bargaining Committee is asking LEO members to track their hours for the month of October to help us gather information about how much lecturers are working and what work they are being asked to do. To participate in LEO workload tracking, fill out this form! After you submit the form a LEO staff member will send you an hours tracking template.

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

Stay up to date with what’s happening with student Dining Workers & Residential Staff by following them on twitter:

Electoral Resources courtesy of the SPACE Committee!

  • AFT Votes: download the app to request your mail in ballot, and find local actions (including virtual!) that you can take part in.

  • WAVE Michigan: reach out to friends and neighbors and remind them to turn in their applications and ballots early.

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFL-CIO Endorsements: put in your address to find your local union endorsements and ways to take action

  • How to Vote Early

  • LEO Blog GOTV

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Anti-Austerity Toolkit: LEO is one of the many unions in the All Campus Labor Council (ACLC). The ACLC is organizing a public campaign to fight austerity measures at UofM. Lecturers contributing their stories will be critical to a strong campaign. Take a look at the University-wide Anti-austerity Toolkit and send your quote and/or photo to communications@leounion.org! 

  • The All Campus Labor Council will hold a Popular Education Workshop on Money at UM on October 16, 12:00-1:30PM to develop a common analysis of the U’s tremendous wealth and how it is being spent (or not), and what we can do about it. RSVP here.

  • Dearborn faculty can attend a DEI Listening Session with Chancellor Grasso and advocate on behalf of the One University Demands outlined in the Leaders & Best proposal. Wednesday, October 21st, 12-1:00 p.m. Register HERE.

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that you and your students can get to your polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

  • Phone Banking for Sheryl Kennedy - Sheryl Kennedy is a fellow lecturer on the Flint campus who is also an incumbent state representative. You can sign up for times to support her HERE.

  • SPACE Cmte Events - The Solidarity, Political Action, & Community Engagement Committee has biweekly meetings & will be hosting Wave Raves to get people in our personal & professional network to turn out to vote:

    • Next SPACE meeting (Electoral focus), 10/15 @ 2-3:30 (Zoom link)

    • WAVE Rave, 10/22 @ 2-3:30 (Zoom link)

LEO Solidarity Digest- Updates for 10/6/20

  • The Workload Subcommittee of the Bargaining Committee is asking LEO members to track their hours to help us gather information about how much lecturers are working and what work they are being asked to do. To participate in LEO workload tracking, fill out this form! We're asking lecturers to track their hours for the month of October, but if you can only commit to tracking for a portion of the month we ask that you try to complete a full week. After you submit this form a LEO staff member will send you an hours tracking template.

  • Has the pandemic impacted your teaching? Are you concerned about navigating the shifting landscape as we continue the Fall semester and move into Winter planning? LEO is forming a COVID Caucus to allow for a collective conversation centered on discussing the real-time impact of COVID on lecturers and the broader campus community. This group will also provide recommendations to the COVID Impact working group on how the pandemic will impact our upcoming bargaining. Join us for our first meeting on October 7th from 4-5pm to begin this discussion. Interested? Share ideas and questions with Alex at alex@leounion.org and RSVP at bit.ly/LEOREGISTER. 

  • Coming out of the General Membership meetings, some lecturers have expressed interest in forming a Parents Caucus to help address the specific needs of that group in the lead up to bargaining. If you are interested in joining this caucus to make the voice of parents heard, contact Matt Oches at matt@leounion.org. 

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

Electoral Resources courtesy of the SPACE Committee!

  • AFT Votes: download the app to request your mail in ballot, and find local actions (including virtual!) that you can take part in.

  • WAVE Michigan: reach out to friends and neighbors and remind them to turn in their applications and ballots early.

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFLCIO Votes: find union endorsements and ways to take action

  • Find your local labor council to get info on local endorsements and more

  • LEO Blog GOTV

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Anti-Austerity Toolkit: LEO is one of the many unions in the All Campus Labor Council (ACLC). The ACLC is organizing a public campaign to fight austerity measures at UofM. Lecturers contributing their stories will be critical to a strong campaign. Take a look at the University-wide Anti-austerity Toolkit and send your quote and/or photo to communications@leounion.org! 

  • The All Campus Labor Council will hold a Popular Education Workshop on Money at UM on October 16, 12:00-1:30PM to develop a common analysis of the U’s tremendous wealth and how it is being spent (or not), and what we can do about it. RSVP here.

  • Dearborn faculty can attend two DEI Listening Sessions with Chancellor Grasso and advocate on behalf of the One University Demands outlined in the Leaders & Best proposal.

    • Register: Friday, October 9 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

    • Register: Wednesday, October 21 - noon - 1:00 p.m.

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that you and your students can get to your polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

  • Phone Banking for Sheryl Kennedy - Sheryl Kennedy is a fellow lecturer on the Flint campus who is also an incumbent state representative. You can sign up for times to support her HERE.

  • SPACE Cmte Events - The Solidarity, Political Action, & Community Engagement Committee has biweekly meetings & will be hosting Wave Raves to get people in our personal & professional network to turn out to vote:

    • WAVE Rave, 10/8 @2-3:30 (Zoom link)

    • Next SPACE meeting (Electoral focus), 10/15 @2-3:30 (Zoom link)

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/29/20

  • We have celebrated the 1U victories in Flint with the extension of Ann Arbor legal and health services to Flint students. It’s time for Dearborn to step up! The 1U Dearborn students feel like “Grasso is failing” and they need your support. Sign on to their demands! 

  • Has the pandemic impacted your teaching? Are you concerned about navigating the shifting landscape as we continue the Fall semester and move into Winter planning? LEO is forming a COVID Caucus to allow for a collective conversation centered on discussing the real-time impact of COVID on lecturers and the broader campus community. This group will also provide recommendations to the COVID Impact working group on how the pandemic will impact our upcoming bargaining. Join us for our first meeting on October 7th from 4-5pm to begin this discussion. Interested? Share ideas and questions with Alex at alex@leounion.org and RSVP at bit.ly/LEOREGISTER. 

  • Save the Date: after organizing a well-attended Speak Out on the impact of austerity and Covid on workers and students a few weeks ago, the All Campus Labor Council will hold a Popular Education Workshop on Money at UM on October 16, 12:00-1:30PM to develop a common analysis of the U’s tremendous wealth and how it is being spent (or not), and what we can do about it. RSVP at bit.ly/LEOREGISTER.


NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace and student actions.)

Electoral News

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

Electoral Resources 

  • AFT Votes: download the app to request your mail in ballot, and find local actions (including virtual!) that you can take part in.

  • WAVE Michigan: reach out to friends and neighbors and remind them to turn in their applications and ballots early.

  • AFT MI pro-labor and education endorsed candidates

  • AFLCIO Votes: find union endorsements and ways to take action

  • Find your local labor council to get info on local endorsements and more

  • LEO Blog GOTV

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace and student actions.)

  • Support MDining Workers in creating a safer working and dining environment for campus:

  • Dearborn faculty can attend two DEI Listening Sessions with Chancellor Grasso and advocate on behalf of the One University Demands outlined in the Leaders & Best proposal.

    • Register: Friday, October 9 - 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

    • Register: Wednesday, October 21 -noon - 1:00 p.m.

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that your students can get to their polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

  • Wednesday Sept 30th 8pm: Members of the GEO strike team will present alongside other groups from across the country for Public Higher Education Workers (PHEW) webinar: “No Cuts. No Cops. No Union Busting. Organizing for Power in Public Higher Education.” Register HERE.

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/22/20

  • Student Residential Staff (ResStaff), which includes Resident Advisors(RAs) & Diversity Peer Educators (DPEs) have been on strike since Sept 8th. They have come to a tentative agreement with Housing, and a majority of ResStaff voted yesterday to end their 2 week strike as of this morning.

  • UM Staff are circulating an open letter (151 signatures so far) asking the University Administration to commit to non-retaliation against students and workers striking for a safe campus and to involve staff in decision-making on workplace safety concerns around Covid and policing.

  • LEO’s Union Council made three public statements on Monday, September 21 about the University Administration’s Covid-19 response

    • A public statement in support of ResStaff demands.

    • A public statement in support of greater governance and transparency in Administration decision-making around Covid, in response to the 9/16 Faculty Senate vote of no confidence.

    • An open letter addressed to President Schlissel from the All Campus Labor Council outlining the concerns and immediate needs of UM unions, unorganized workers, and students.

  • GEO and Students Demand Representation held a candlelit vigil at President Schlissel’s house on Sunday night to mourn the loss of faith in the administration.

  • The One University Campaign recently won a two-year campaign to push the UM-Flint administration to grant access to undergraduate students to UM-Ann Arbor’s medical and legal services. All eyes are on Dearborn now.

  • What are you doing to protect our democracy in 2020? LEO’s SPACE Committee recommends you get involved with AFT Votes! Request your absentee ballot, sign up to phonebank, pledge to be a poll worker, and invite your friends.

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

  • The LEO blog for the recent Union Council public statements and LEO Flint Campus Chair Steven Toth’s statement at the Regents’ Meeting on 9.17.

  • All-Campus Labor Council’s Anti-Austerity Toolkit for campus unions and organizations to fight back against the painful austerity cuts against workers and students.

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)

  • AFT Votes! Smartphone app that you can download to keep up to date with opportunities to phonebank for candidates that support public higher ed as well as working the polls and aiding others with voting absentee.

  • Sign this student-led Pledge for Faculty to not hold synchronous classes or major assessments on Nov 3rd to ensure that your students can get to their polling stations and/or work the polls on election day! More information HERE!

  • Follow the One University Campaign on Social Media

    • Twitter - @OneUniversityUM

    • Facebook - @OneUniversityUM

    • Instagram - @oneudearborn // @flint1u

  • Follow @UMakesmesick for updates on UM Dining Hall workers organizing for a safer workplace.

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/18/20

  • GEO membership voted Wednesday night to accept the University’s offer and end their strike. Read more in GEO’s statement on the end of their historic strike.

  • Today from 1-3pm GEO will hold a virtual teach-in and conversation about where to go from here. RSVP: bit.ly/UMTeach

  • ResStaff Building Representatives met Wednesday with Rick Gibson, Director of Housing. They assumed they were heading into negotiations on their demands but were met instead with threats that they would be fired. (See ways to support in the “Solidarity Steps” below)

  • At the Board of Regents’ Meeting last night:

    • The Regents began with a statement in support of President Schlissel following the Faculty Senate’s “no confidence” vote on Wednesday night.

    • We learned of the implementation of health and legal services for students in Flint that the One University campaign has long fought for. Amanda Salleh, a 1U Dearborn student, requested Regent support to ensure the programs are extended to Dearborn and that Chancellor Grasso involve students in the spending of the $20 million for student success.

    • Several undergraduate students, representatives from the Climate Action Movement, and GEO all condemned the reopening and the administration's threat of legal action against GEO and failure to protect students from COVID-19.

    • Our own Steven Toth, LEO Campus Chair in Flint, spoke about the need to reverse the harmful austerity cuts in Flint and Dearborn, including the mass layoff of lecturers on both campuses since May.

    • You can find excellent live coverage of the event on the 1U Twitter account


NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/16/20

  • Following the feedback from Monday’s LEO Townhall, LEO members were able to coordinate a well-attended picket line of lecturers and joined GEO outside of Mason and Angel halls today from 8-11am.

  • SACUA vote results on motion of particular interest to LEO

    • Motion 2, No Confidence in Reopening, FAILS (915 Yes, 991 No, 198 Abstain)

    • Motion 3, Increased faculty governance (including Lecturers) PASSES (1321 Yes, 615 No, 179 Abstain)

    • Motion 5, Transparency on Covid Models, PASSES (1635 Yes, 293 No, 118 Abstain)

    • Motion 6, No Confidence in President Schlissel, FAILS* (957 Yes, 953 No, 184 Abstain) (yes vote did not equal a majority of voters) (*Faculty Senate president seeks legal opinion on the result.)

    • Motion 7, (made from the floor), Asks UM Administration to withdraw its court injunction against GEO, PASSES (963 Yes, 459 No, 71 Abstain)

  • GEO is holding a General Membership Meeting tonight, 7-9PM to discuss the latest offer from UM Administration. If membership votes to accept, the strike will be over.

  • If the GEO strike continues, LEO will hold two lecturer pickets in solidarity with GEO TOMORROW, Thursday 9/17

    • 8AM-11AM on the Diag in Ann Arbor, w/tenure-track faculty

    • 8AM-12pm outside of the UM Detroit Center (3663 Woodward Ave.) - corner of Woodward and Parsons just south of Orchestra Hall, in Detroit

    • Details to participate in both these actions are under “Solidarity Steps” below.

  • LEO Flint Campus Chair Steven Toth will address the mass layoffs of lecturers and austerity cuts on the Dearborn and Flint campuses during public comment at the Regents Meeting tomorrow, September 17, 4PM. You can watch the broadcast here.

  • Don’t forget to follow LEO on our blog/social media platforms to stay up to date on all the happenings

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/15/20

  • LEO had a town hall last night to discuss the GEO strike. Over 120 members participated! It was identified that our Solidarity Digest was a good resource for Lecturers but that much more could be done to communicate across our membership!  Consider joining our Communications Committee to help us get the word out in a timely manner: To learn more about becoming a LEO member, click here. 

  • LEO is organizing a lecturer picket shift TOMORROW, Wed 9/16. Meet at 8:00am on the Diag. Find details to participate in the “Solidarity Steps” below.

  • GEO will be Hosting #UMTeachTogether on the Diag - Wed 9/16 10am-2pm. Faculty are invited to give informal presentations (up to 15 minutes) on any issue related to labor, campus safety, public health, or any of GEO’s specific demands. Faculty can sign up for a time to present in-person or to send a prerecorded message HERE.

  • On Wednesday, 3-4pm, the Faculty Senate will vote on two motions of no confidence in the University administration’s response to COVID-19. All lecturers are encouraged to attend. Here is the Full List of Six Motions. Here is the Zoom.

  • Thursday 4-5:30pm, Board of Regents Meeting. Noteworthy will be the Public Comments section at the end of the meeting as well as the Faculty Governance Report which will address the results of the Votes of No Confidence from the day before. Here is the Agenda. Watch the Meeting HERE. Learn more about how Regents Meetings work HERE.


NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)

   

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/14/20 

It’s the third week of the semester and campus actions continue to build. Here’s what you need to know. 

  • On Sunday night, GEO authorized an extension of its strike through Friday. In addition to picketing, GEO will also be hosting a series of town-hall style events throughout the week. 

  • LEO will be hosting a town hall to discuss the GEO strike TONIGHT (9/14) from 7pm-8:30pm. The town hall is open to union members only. To RSVP, click here. To learn more about becoming a LEO member, click here. 

  • GEO supporters will hold a 2nd Detroit-based picket at the University of Michigan Detroit Center on Tuesday at 7:30 am. Details to participate are below. 

  • Last Friday, the All-Campus Labor Council hosted a University-Wide speak out. The speak-out featured over 200 participants, including hospital workers from Michigan Medicine and staff, faculty, and students from all three campuses, voicing their struggles and concerns over the start of the semester. 

  • On Wednesday, 3-4pm, the Faculty Senate will vote on two motions of no confidence in the University administration’s response to COVID-19. All lecturers are encouraged to attend. Here is the Full List of Six Motions. Here is the Zoom.

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

 

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)           

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)       

LEO Solidarity Digest - Update for 9/11/20 

In addition to Wednesday’s announcement of a Resident Advisor strike, the student dining hall workers in Ann Arbor have announced that they will walk out today at 5pm for safer working conditions. Also at 5pm today, the group Students Demand Representation will host a march in Ann Arbor starting at the Michigan Union in collaboration with the One University Campaign and GEO. 

Meanwhile, GEO continues into its fourth day of striking with growing support on the picket lines. Last night’s GEO Faculty Town Hall had over 600 attendees. 


Today from noon to 1:30pm, the All Campus Labor Council will host the University Wide Speakout (RSVP: bit.ly/ACLCSPEAKOUT). The event currently has over 220 RSVPs, with representation from multiple campus unions, unorganized student workers, and community members. This will be an opportunity for workers and students across the campus to come together and share stories about our experiences during the pandemic as members of the UM Community.

Join your union for a LEO Town Hall: Monday 9/14 7-8:30pm

Come discuss the historic GEO strike: what it has meant for you, your union, and your university. The meeting will take place whether or not the GEO strike is ongoing on Monday evening. It is open to members on the three campuses.

Please RSVP to the LEO Town Hall to receive a Zoom link: https://bit.ly/32iSnfl

LEO is not on strike, nor has LEO leadership asked for members to go on strike. If you do choose to strike, you should know that withholding your labor is a violation of the No Strike clause of our contract and could expose you to disciplinary action. However, here are 3 things that Lecturers can do without striking to show their support for our grad student colleagues right now:

  1. Join their picket line (when not teaching), sign up for shifts here: https://bit.ly/32bWXfk

  2. Share Teach-In materials with your students before/during/after class, or through an Announcement on Canvas: https://bit.ly/2Zi75RR  //  https://bit.ly/3jYRcYE

  3. Participate in email and phone zaps: https://bit.ly/2Zl3Adr

  4. Sign the Faculty Letter Supporting GEO Strike: https://bit.ly/3bQ1SWt 

NEWS: (Where you’ll find some of the latest press about U-M workplace actions.)

Michigan Daily, Graduate students reject deal from University, opt to continue striking

Michigan Daily: Dining hall employees to walk out of work Friday, following lead of grad students and resident adviser

MLive: Residence hall staff on strike at University of Michigan, demand more coronavirus protections

RESOURCES: (Where you’ll find information about U-M workplace actions.)

Students Demand Representation Allied Social Media Links LEO Update on GEO Strike (9/8/20)LEO Statement on Subbing/ScabbingGEO DemandsGEO Info for Undergraduate StudentsGEO Post for Parents of UndergradsGEO on Facebook

SOLIDARITY STEPS: (Where you’ll find ways to support U-M workplace actions.)Read - Striking 101Read - FAQ on GEO’S Anti-Policing DemandsSign up for GEO picket shifts by following this linkFAQ/Instructions for in-person picketersVirtual picketing (including phone zaps and email zaps)

SolidarityLEO Communications Committee