Dear CGE Members and Community,


Quick Little Reminders

Bargaining Team: Like everything else CGE does, the impact bargaining team is made up of members - that’s you! If you are concerned about the change in our health care from PacificSource to Cigna and want to get involved, please reach out to Piper at vp_bargaining@cge6069.org. There are many ways you can contribute - doing research, helping draft contract language, and/or being a negotiator. Meetings are Mondays 10-11 am in the Student Lounge of WestM.

Do you want a say in how CGE communicates, both to membership and the public? If so please reach out to me at vp_communications@cge6069.org.

  • Please share affects of the health care change as well as your ideas on specific outcomes and contract language you would like to see come out of impact bargaining with healthcare@cge6069.org.

  • Speak to you out-of-network providers about transitioning to be in-network for Cigna (the transition period starts 10/1).

    • Announcements

    Cigna call line
    The Cigna call line (1-888-806-5042) is open for calls about our insurance change. Unfortunately, it seems to be less reliable than we hoped, as there have been cases of people getting conflicting information. OSU should provide us with actual plan details on September 1st, but until then this call line is our best resource. This inconsistency is disappointing, but it is still helpful to collect all the information we can. Thank you to everyone who has called and shared what they have learned with healthcare@cge6069.org. To reiterate, according to OSU we will still have dental and vision insurance, we just don't yet know the details of the coverage.

    Fall Appointment Letter Deadline
    If you got your appointment letter after 8/16 or still haven’t gotten it, OSU owes you 50$! Please email Christopher at vp_grievances@cge6069.orgor use the confidential grievance form.

    Paid Position: Fall MOI
    Applications for AFT-Oregons Member Organizing Institute (MOI) are open! MOI is a 3 month paid training program that teaches organizing skills through real-world experience in concert with staff and local leaders. It pays 25$/hour for a maximum of 10 hours a week. Because it is not through OSU it doesn't impact FTE or other aspects of research or teaching work.
    Program highlights include:
    ● Attend a paid two-day organizing training with other member organizing institute/academy
    participants
    ● Get real-world field experience under guidance from professional organizing staff
    ● Regular team meetings with other MOI participants to compare and learn
    ● Establish and build organizing practices for our local including helping with a membership drive and having organizing conversations
    Applications are due September 8th but reach out to organizer@cge6069.org asap to indicate your interest and get the application materials. 

    Bargaining updates
    The bargaining team is working hard to prepare for impact bargaining over potential consequences of the health care change. What we propose in impact bargaining is dependent on what consequences there are and what members want. Please continue to share your information and thoughts with healthcare@cge6069.org. For detailed information on impact bargaining VP for Bargaining Piper sent out an excellent email this morning. 

    Upcoming Events

  • Special Health Care GMM, September 11th, 5-7pm (location TBD)
  • This meeting will be an opportunity to discuss how the health care change will impact us and work together to plan for it. Please come and bring your questions, thoughts, and friends.

    • Committees and Caucuses that need your help

    Grad workers are capable and passionate people who can together exercise great power. One of the ways we do that is through caucuses and committees.

    Meeting this week:

    Contract Action Team (CATs): 

    We need more CATs! Our CATs do all of our on-the-ground work, including turnout to events, talking to members, planning actions, and so much more. You can commit as much or as little time as you have.  If you want to be more involved in organizing efforts, but don’t know where to start, CAT meetings are the place to start! Come to a CAT meeting in Cordley 4329! Wednesdays 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm Cordley 4329.


    Committee on Political Engagement (COPE): Plans and implements actions around wider political issues. COPE members channel collective power into concrete efforts to make a difference at local and national scales of government and policy. Wednesdays 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm in WestM.

    Disability Justice Caucus: The DJ Caucus is committed to providing space for disabled, Mad, crip, mentally ill, neuroqueer, neurodivergent, crazy, blind, deaf, and hard-of-hearing graduate students to be in community with each other, as well as to center their needs, interests, and concerns. Moreover, the DJ Caucus works to end ableist/sanist structures and dynamics within CGE and Oregon State University. Open to all graduate students, regardless of current CGE membership status. Every other Thursday (this week!) 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm in WestM.

    Mutual Aid Caucus: Organizes mutual aid for grads and other members of our community! The Mutual Aid Caucus organizes resource sharing events and builds a supportive empowering community. Wednesdays 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm in WestM.

    If you are interested in helping to lead/organize any of the following caucuses (or start a new one!), email solidarity@cge6069.org to connect with the Executive Council, who will help you get started!


    • Anti-Harassment Caucus

    • Caucus on Graduate Employee Safety

    • Environmental Justice Caucus

    • Housing Caucus

    • International Caucus

    • Women of Color Caucus

    • Working Parents Caucus


    In solidarity,
    Serena Frazee (she/her)
    VP for Communications, Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069
    PhD Student in Integrative Biology, Oregon State University