*Dear CGE Members and Community,* *Quick Little Reminders* - *Complete the **Survey of Graduate Workers' Issues *Please respond to this *fully anonymous* survey <https://forms.gle/yAVbrLA42Gi9QBBJ7> to communicate what is important to you! Responses will not be distributed outside of the CGE bargaining team members and other CGE leadership. Help us get a better understanding of grad workers' priorities and needs over time, to direct bargaining efforts and provide evidence of particular issues, which can help us build power at the bargaining table. - *Submit testimony for Health Care for All *The state of Oregon is currently developing and assessing a state-wide universal health care program and looking for public comment. Universal health care would protect people from the experience we've had of our healthcare changing unexpectedly based on our employers financial choices. *You can submit testimony to the Universal Health Care Governance Board here <https://www.oregon.gov/uhpgb/Pages/public-comment.aspx>*. There are also public meetings and lots of other ways to get involved at Health Care for All Oregon <https://www.hcao.org/take-action>! - *We are in the Cigna enrollment period **(10/1-10/31) *This is the time for enrolling dependents, applying for the Transition of Care program (more info here <https://www.cigna.com/static/www-cigna-com/docs/transition-of-care-individual-and-family-plans.pdf>), and for out-of-network providers transitioning to in-network. - *Cigna registration**: *Reminder that this registration is only to receive your digital insurance card— *regardless of registration grads are covered by Cigna as of October 1st*. However, if you run into issues with registration please bring this to the attention of Grad Health at 541-737-7568 or gradhealth@oregonstate.edu, they should be able to help. - *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> healthcare@cge6069.org. - *Bargaining Committee (meets Mondays 2-4pm @WestM):* *Like everything else CGE does, the impact bargaining team is made up of members - that’s you! *If you are interested in learning more about or even joining the Bargaining Committee please email vp_bargaining@cge6069.org with a non-OSU email indicating your interest. Anyone can attend bargaining committee meetings, even if you are not a member of the team. *We are especially interested in making sure that we have representation from masters students, international students, humanities students, queer students, students of color, and any other group of students who face challenges that can be addressed through contract negotiations.* No prior experience in research/negotiations is expected or required! *Announcements* - *CGE Hardship Fund closes today!* 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://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cge6069.org%2Fconnect%2Fhardship%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cweisskae%40oregonstate.edu%7Ce0207329ea584b53f59308dd3cc59fb6%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C638733541680344836%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=0n1AjJC%2FdnQZ5W7IewipWU2A6OrNm0WN7GxgKap20So%3D&reserved=0>. Keep in mind that the hardship fund is powered entirely by associate member and legacy member dues. OSU’s Hardship fund has more resources but is much less transparent. If you want assistance applying to OSU’s fund, email solidarity@cge6069.org. *Upcoming Events* - *General Membership Meeting (GMM), Monday 10/27, 5-7pm at WestM* At the GMM we will have updates about AFT-CIO (our parent union), the healthcare transition, and other plans for the year. *Come connect with your coworkers about what's going on in your workplace and your union over free dinner! *GMMs are an opportunity for all members stay informed, take action on things that matter to us, and organize with leaders and members from across the university. *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. All meetings are at WestM unless otherwise stated. *International Caucus: *The CGE International Caucus is open to all graduate students regardless of CGE membership status and serves to represent the concerns of all international students at Oregon State University. The International Graduate Caucus recognizes that international graduate students attending OSU have unique needs and difficulties in comparison to US students. Reach out to president@cge6069.org. *Contract Action Team (CAT): *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! Meeting October 27th at 4pm in Cordley 4329. *Disability Justice and Mental Health Super Caucus: *This new super caucus is working on writing its charter. Open to all graduate students, regardless of current CGE membership status. Fridays, 11am on Zoom, reach out to vp_membership@cge6069.org. *Environmental Justice Caucus: *The CGE Environmental Justice Caucus works with the university and Corvallis communities to address the causes and consequences of the climate crisis and environmental destruction through equitable and just solutions. Meeting October 30th at 12pm. *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 in local and state politics. Meets Fridays 10am. Email vp_politics@cge6069.org for more information. *Finance Committee: *This committee works on the CGE budget*. *If you're interested in where your dues go and having a say in the finances of CGE please come! Meeting 11/12 (will have donuts!), and reach out to treasurer@cge6069.org. *Grievance Committee: *A great opportunity for people to learn more about the contract and how we defend it. Meets Thursdays 2pm. Email vp_grievances@cge6069.org for more information. *Pride Caucus:* Place for community, support, and action to safeguard the rights and affirm the identities of people who identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community at Oregon State University. Meeting Fridays, 3pm. In solidarity, Serena Frazee (she/her) VP for Communications, Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069 PhD Student in Integrative Biology, Oregon State University