The TAA has requested a meet and confer relationship with the Chancellor at UW-Madison to discuss workplace issues! However, the Chancellor has denied our request. We believe we can convince her to meet with us if we show grad students are interested in union representation. 

Current vote tally (09.25.24): 291 grad workers support regular meetings with the Chancellor.

Signatures on our solidarity petition (community, faculty, and staff in support of meet & confer): 708

What is “meet and confer”?
“Meet and confer” entails regular negotiating meetings between the union and UW-Madison administration. These meetings are legal under Wisconsin law, and would give the union an opportunity to bring and discuss demands. 

Why do we need Meet and Confer?
The UW system faces a dire fiscal reality. In spite of the state’s record surplus of $4 billion, the system is seeing furloughs, layoffs, and program cuts. Our union needs a voice in how resources are allocated on campus, especially when those decisions impact our working conditions. 

What about Shared Governance/ASM?
Shared governance and ASM play an important role in addressing our needs as students such as curricular matters, student rights and services, and other academic issues. In contrast, our union is devoted to advancing the needs of grads as workers. If shared governance alone was enough, then we would already have paid medical leave, fee remission, and a living wage; but we don’t.