Dear DFA Members,
We wanted to catch you up about an exciting new effort to improve higher education funding and governance at the national level, Higher Ed Labor United, or HELU, for short:
https://higheredlaborunited.org
Last Fall, CUCFA (the systemwide organization of which the DFA is a member) leadership voted to endorse the inspiring HELU Vision Platform, which can be found online here:
https://higheredlaborunited.org/about/vision-platform/
HELU is working on devising legislative strategies that can help unite higher education unions into a cohesive national movement, win more state and federal funding, and couple that funding with additional protections for workers. In addition, HELU shares strategies and coordinates local union campaigns across dozens of different campuses.
In doing so, the HELU organizers joined 114 unions and organizations from 29 states plus D.C., in to a progressive nationwide coalition representing over 520,000 union workers to defend and improve higher education for undergraduate students, graduate students, teaching assistants, faculty, staff, and the communities we serve.
(The full list of endorsing organizations can be found at:
https://higheredlaborunited.org/about/platform-endorsers/)
At the end of this month, HELU will be holding its Winter Summit, Wednesday, Feb. 23 through Sunday, Feb. 27.
https://higheredlaborunited.org/winter-2022-summit/
CUCFA chapter members are invited to attend; there is no charge. Select “Council of UC Faculty Associations” as your “Union/Organization” in the registration form, which is at:
https://higheredlaborunited.org/winter-2022-summit/helu-winter-2022-summit-registration/
The summit will feature virtual sessions and a mix of panel sessions, plenaries, and break-out discussions, with a focus on three core tasks:
1) coordinating the surge of higher education workers organizing across the country
2) developing federal policy proposals to reverse the trends that have damaged higher education over the last several decades
3) engaging in the political process by educating politicians and candidates on these issues and working to support those who will advance a program of democratizing higher education
It is sure to be a stimulating, productive gathering, both for developing strategy and building solidarity across job categories, campuses, and union lines. The HELU Summit presents a terrific chance for DFA members to think creatively and collectively about what needs doing in the days ahead. I hope some of you can make it!
FA leaders attend most HELU meetings and serve on legislative matters and political organizing committees. Let us know if you have any questions.
In solidarity,
Jesse Drew and Richard Scalettar
DFA Co-Chairs