*Dear CGE Members and Community,* *Quick Little Reminders* - We need your help to bring your healthcare providers in-network. Please share a list of providers you would like to bring in-network in this brief, anonymous survey <https://forms.gle/WZn9Dz528QZsJUxV6>. The survey also includes the option to provide more detailed information about your healthcare providers (both in-network and out-of-network with Cigna). This information will help provide further context for your bargaining team, and be part of creating a list of recommended providers for new grad workers and others looking for healthcare. - *Tax help through VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance), through Tax Day (April 15th)* Grads can get help with taxes through the VITA program at OSU. Bring any tax forms, a photo ID, and passport or SSN card and volunteers will work with you to file your taxes. Grads have reported a quick and simple process and higher than usual tax returns. Book an appointment here <https://oregonstate.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_a9scfAEOs98cNrU>. Announcements - *Fellows' Union update* OSU has objected to the Fellows' Union authorization process by claiming that fellows aren't employees. This is not surprising, as they claimed the same thing about graduate research assistants before they were included in the bargaining unit. They were wrong then, as the Employment Relations Board found, and they are wrong now. This is far from over. Fellows' do work that benefits the OSU and deserve the same protections as GTAs/GRAs. - *Congratulations to PCCFCE and PCCFFAP!* After weeks of strike both units of workers at Portland Community College have reached tentative agreements on their contracts! These workers fought hard for what they deserved: they organized, they united on picket line, they held fast in bargaining, and it worked. Before the strike PCC was offering cost-of-living-adjustment of 0.25%, and these folks won 2-3%. Before the strike PCC was refusing any back-pay, after the strike the workers received lump-sum payments in the range of thousands. This is reminder of the power we have when we come together. *Upcoming Events* - *April 20th Secretary of State Party* The Oregon Secretary of State will be on campus. Keep an eye out for more info! *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. **Updates for Spring term** *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 Cortney at vp_bargaining@cge6069.org <vp_bargaining@cge6069.org> or just come to a meeting!* There are many ways you can contribute - doing research, helping draft contract language, and/or being a negotiator. Meetings are Fridays 9:30-11 am in the Student Lounge of WestM. *Constitution and Bylaws Committee:* This committee meets to go over CGE's constitution and bylaws <https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cge6069.org%2Fabout%2Fconstitution%2F&data=05%7C02%7Cfrazeese%40oregonstate.edu%7C37cbd9a28bda4fd77b6f08de8e7a3ed2%7Cce6d05e13c5e4d6287a84c4a2713c113%7C0%7C0%7C639104852915388031%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=pRtNJjOPUL9%2FGkT%2BaVEQ5qJym7aRHktXB76VjHQ2npE%3D&reserved=0> and suggest changes to them, which members will vote on at the spring general membership meeting. This year, one of our main focuses will be on solidifying the existence of a strike fund in our constitution. If you have any ideas about other changes that need to be made to the constitution or bylaws, please join the committee! This committee will only need to meet a few times during Spring Term, so it's a pretty easy way to get involved if you've been looking for a place to get plugged in. If you're interested you can either email me (president@cge6069.org) *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. Hope you are all having a good first week of term! In solidarity, Serena Frazee (she/her) VP for Communications, Coalition of Graduate Employees, AFT Local 6069 PhD Student in Integrative Biology, Oregon State University