Dear Grad Workers,
We asked you to show up to fight for your raise, and the response we saw blew us away. By our count, over 60 workers showed up yesterday to tell NMSU they want a better deal. It’s clear that the power of workers standing together frightens them, because they called the cops on us and locked our bargaining committee out of the bargaining room. Once we finally did start bargaining, it was the constant support of workers outside the room that kept us going. From the bottom of our hearts: Thank you. Leaders are only as good as the members that back them up, and you showed us and NMSU yesterday that you have our back.
Inside the bargaining room, we received yet another lowball offer from the university. The administrators on the other side of the table were audacious enough to suggest that graduate workers should simply sacrifice their health and tighten their belts rather than pushing for a fair wage, going as far as saying that international students without financial privilege don’t deserve to be students here. We’re living through an affordability crisis, and NMSU’s bargaining team (all of whom make over 6 figures) wants us to figure out how to bridge the gap between what they pay us and what it takes to live in Las Cruces.
It is clear that the administration is simply not concerned about our well being. to the extent that they are not willing to allocate the less than 0.5% of their unrestricted funds it would take to give us a meaningful raise. If we want a better deal, we have to keep the pressure up.
Our next Bargaining session will take place on Wednesday, May 13th. Between now and then we’re asking you to flood their inboxes. Show them we won’t stay silent and accept how things have always been: NMSU can do better by its workers. NMSU must do better by its workers. Check your email for details on how to join the email campaign!
Despite the contempt and apathy we continue to face from NMSU’s bargaining team, we’re uplifted by yesterday’s display of solidarity and revitalized to keep up the fight. We will see the day that NMSU’s graduate workers will earn a wage that allows us to live, flourish, and run this university. Fund the future!
In Solidarity,
Your Bargaining Committee