Harry Szabo is a Unionist!

I'm voting for @jonesjay.bsky.social because we need an AG who's going to fight for our rights in higher ed, not another 4 years with the guy who paved the way for teargassing our students. And also because I'm not five years old and I can recognize a political hit job when I see it.

Rasoul is a god damn state hero & I'll die on that hill. Mealymouthed centrists pandering to genocide supporters will only get us further down the road to total fascist takeover.

I stand w/ @samrasoul.bsky.social! Not only because he has a track record of standing with us, not only because of his willingness to fight powerful moneyed interests, but also because Sam is right to call attention to genocide. The moral bankruptcy of focusing on semantics should be self evident.

I am in love with this work. I went to the dentist last week using the health insurance that my fellow workers helped me win. I feel a responsibility to pay that forward. I hope you'll come join us, and win something you desperately need at work. ucwva.org/join-us

5. Perhaps conversely: winning matters. Coming up with plans that lead to winning matters. People talk a lot about bringing joy and fun into organizing; I feel that there's an intrinsic joy in winning something you never knew you could have. It makes the next action easier.

4. The situations we find ourselves in are high stakes, and there is no perfect solution that keeps us out of conflict with our bosses, or that is perfectly safe. I have come around to the idea that we should have a bias toward action. Take lessons from mistakes and keep going.

3. Negotiating in good faith is key. I had to learn how to be very clear about what I wanted from people, and then ask them to share what they want, and see what work we can do together. Negotiating action steps that people will actually *do* is more important than moral purity.

2. Theory starts to matter more *after* you've done at least some of the above. Do you understand the "solved problems" in the world of organizing, so you aren't duplicating old work? As much as possible, if you're reading theory--TEST IT. If it doesn't work in practice, why not?

1. Material commitment is more important than having done all the reading. Will you come to a meeting? Will you stack chairs, pour people water? Will you carry a clipboard around and ask people to sign a petition? Will you vote, door knock, wear a button?

This month marks my 3 year anniversary as a union president and more importantly, my 5 year anniversary as a union member. I am very proud, and a little terrified about how much we still have left to do. Here are five things I learned in five years:

Happy Pride!

Virginia university reform efforts mirror nationwide push to remake higher-education While the deterioration of independent governance and hiring of tenured faculty has been ongoing for decades, it has been exacerbated by recent politics.

A conservative movement wants to remake higher education - to scrap traditional university shared governance in way of more powerful boards and executives. They say it’ll foster intellectual diversity. Educators warn academic freedom is at stake.

www.pilotonline.com/2025/04/29/v...

@harryszabo.bsky.social

CWA members and retirees in District 2-13 are lending a helping hand to those in need by preparing and distributing toiletry/hygiene kits!

Congress is reviewing a budget reconciliation bill that would be history’s most dangerous higher ed bill. This bill, if passed, will bar working-class families from attending higher education. We need to stop it from passing. @debtcollective.bsky.social higheredlaborunited.org/2025/05/01/d...

Happy May Day! If you work in higher education in Virginia, you can celebrate today by joining your union: ucwva.org/join-us

May Day is right around the corner! This year, workers across the country are organizing events to uplift the labor movement in the face of federal attacks on labor.

You can learn more about each event and how you can get involved at tinyurl.com/May-Day-2025, or at the link in bio.

extremely grateful that @katrinacallsen.com and @creighdeeds.bsky.social are pursuing this! courthouse abductions are unconscionable, a clear red line. 🫡

The ableism that RFK Jr. spreads may lead to more parents being horrible to their disabled kids. A "leader" spreading harmful rhetoric may influence parents.

More than 320k Utahns sign referendum to appeal labor union bill, double the required amount Utah union reps are announcing the number of signatures gathered for the referendum seeking to repeal a controversial labor bill.

Huge congratulations to the Protect Utah Workers Coalition on collecting over 320,000 signatures (well beyond the required 140,748) to repeal Utah’s draconian anti union HB.267. Solidarity! 💪🏔️

@harryszabo.bsky.social is right: The truth is the Trump administration is not conservative, they are anti-democratic & the only thing capable of beating them is a powerful movement for democratization. Campus workers have been on the front lines of these attacks. Pass Collective Bargaining NOW!

No educator should fear for their safety while teaching. Let alone without healthcare, @harryszabo.bsky.social said it best, no one benefits more from dignified working conditions than our students. It’s long overdue VA pass Collective Bargaining and protect both our educators and their students.

Tax the rich.

With his legacy under fresh attacks, MLB celebrates Jackie Robinson As the White House targets DEI programs, baseball holds its annual recognition of the man who broke the sport’s color barrier.

As the White House targets DEI programs, baseball holds its annual recognition of Jackie Robinson — the man who broke the sport’s color barrier.

“Jackie Robinson transcends any debate that’s going on in today’s society about issues surrounding DEI,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred said.

At city council protesting the violation of the Richmond Education Association’s collective bargaining agreement. If they can violate theirs then theycan violate ours!
#campusworkers4democracy

Solidarity with @sn-media-guild.bsky.social!!

#booksky 📚 💙 #bookmemes #readingispolitical

Today higher ed workers, students, and communities are standing up to demand our elected leaders Kill The Cuts! Federal funding is critical for research and education that benefits us all. Here's a thread of action photos! Starting with this rally currently happening in LA:

Today, I joined Spanberger, as she announced support for collective bargaining rights in Virginia.

“The only thing capable of defeating Trump is a movement for democratization. We will all benefit when campus workers have a democratic voice through collective bargaining.”
#campusworkers4democracy