Hello fellow workers, Welcome to the new newsletter format! Going forward, we’ll be using this listserv instead of Mailchimp. We still have all-member and all-bargaining-unit listservs set up, but this list also enables community members, alumni, and others to subscribe and stay caught up on what we’re working on. Hardship Fund is live! CGE’s Hardship Fund applications opened on Tuesday (1/21) and closes at the end of Week 5! The Hardship Fund is open to all CGE members and associate members. There are no strings attached to the hardship fund and you will never be asked to pay back any funds you receive. Information about the Hardship Fund and the link to apply can be found here <https://www.cge6069.org/connect/hardship/>. Keep in mind that the hardship fund is powered entirely by associate member and legacy member dues. OSU’s Hardship fund (which we just won higher funding for) has more resources but is much less transparent. If you want assistance applying to OSU’s fund, email solidarity@cge6069.org. Contract Action Team meetings are back! The Contract Action Team (CAT) is basically a university-wide organizing committee: a group of workers who want to defend the contract wins we have, educate their fellow workers, and build power by planning direct actions and other organizing campaigns. As a CAT, you can help us expand our wins between contract cycles by addressing worker concerns through pressure campaigns. The CAT meets every Thursday from 4-5 in the WestM Student Lounge (101 NW 23rd St). Coming up: Winter General Membership Meeting Our next regular General Membership Meeting (GMM) is coming up soon, but we’re still finalizing the date and location. We’ll send out information as soon as we have it, but we wanted to send a quick announcement so that you all have it on your radar. At the GMM, we’ll have the usual officer updates from our Executive Council, as well as time for members to meet each other and make organizing plans together. Steward nominations will also open at the Winter GMM. CGE 95 current stewards but well over 100 empty seats. Becoming a leader in your department is an incredible way to build our structure and capacity as an organization. We need stewards in almost every single department, so we’re encouraging everyone to talk to their current stewards or email vp_organizing@cge6069.org if you want to talk more about the role. Solidarity forever, Lauren Nelson CGE Staff Organizer