By Harry Rose Szabo, President of CWA 2265, University of Virginia
In a time when we are forced into short cycles of reaction against Trump policies, collective bargaining is a long-term proactive measure that would secure public sector workers a state labor board, guarantee the right to negotiate as a group, and challenge an 80-year-old racist state policy against bargaining with higher ed employees. United Campus Workers of Virginia, CWA 2265, is dedicating January 2026 to getting a strong public sector collective bargaining bill for Virginia.
As preparation for passing the bill, we are doing a Higher Ed Week of Action here in Virginia. We are using a range of organizing approaches: internal and external, public events and join-the-union events, and a series of smaller group events and one-on-one conversations (phonebanking, walkthroughs) that build toward our big action, the march on December 5th. We also have events after our march, to support our organizers and encourage our new members to stay involved. This week of programming is the result of hard work from two UCWVA committees and the Virginia AAUP, who are running parallel turnout of our members, communicating with each other daily, and coming together around our shared demands at major events on Thursday and Friday. We’ve got our winter coats out and we’re ready to pay a call on our Boards of Visitors to let them know that the workers have the power at Virginia’s universities.
Monday December 1: Phonebank for the March for Collective Bargaining-4PM-5PM
Join us for virtual phonebanking for the March for Collective Bargaining! We’ll set you up with a script and a list of UVA members to call and invite to march with us!
Tuesday December 2: Graduate Worker Walkthroughs, time TBD, UVA
Our universities don’t run without grads, and grads desperately need collectively bargained contracts. If you’re a grad, link up with a team, get trained, and walk through a department knocking on doors and talking to people about this week. Time depends on your team. Write to the chapter email to sign up!
Wednesday December 3: Sign Making Party for March for Collective Bargaining-12PM-2PM, Saxby’s, Shannon Library, UVA
Join the Living Wage Campaign to make signs for our Friday march! All supplies will be available on site, including a button maker for stamping your own buttons. Wear your union shirt or pick one up on site to be ready for Friday’s march.
Thursday December 4: Pack the BOV with GMU-AAUP and President Szabo, 1PM-3PM, Merten Hall 1201 and Outside Merten Hall
President Szabo will join statewide AAUP leadership and other speakers in urging GMU’s Board of Visitors not to sign an agreement with the Trump Administration. Pack the BOV event at 1, press conference at 2.
Friday December 5:
March (and ride) for Collective Bargaining-12PM,-3PM, Bryan Hall, UVA
The Living Wage Campaign and Faculty Committee of UCWVA present: a march for Collective Bargaining! Join us in marching (and then getting on a bus and riding) to the Board of Visitors Meeting at Boar’s Head. If we want a living wage, if we want self-governance of our universities, if we want academic freedom and protection from political retaliation, we need Collective Bargaining. Come tell your Board of Visitors, who work for you, what you want! Dress warmly for the weather!
After Party-5PM, Kardinal Hall, UVA
Join us for an evening of union fellowship where we’ll debrief the march, eat and drink, and enjoy each other’s company.
Saturday December 6: Tabling for UCWVA-9AM, IX Market, Charlottesville VA
Come stop by and see us at our table at IX to talk about joining your union! Already a member? Come take a picture and share on social media and learn about how you can get more deeply involved in winning Collective Bargaining.
We always remind people: when we fight, we win. Stay tuned.
THE WEEK IN PICTURES:
