Meet The Candidates
UAW 2322 President:
Sofía Cárdenas-Cantú
She/Her
My name is Sofía Cárdenas-Cantú and I am running to be the President of our union, UAW Local 2322. One job should be enough to pay your bills, to afford the healthcare you and your loved ones need, to properly retire, and fundamentally to live with dignity. My plan, if elected President, will be to implement an Organizing for Power model that will carry each unit through an assessment to identify weaknesses and strengths along with a strategic planning process intended to give us all an opportunity to build the union we deserve. I want to give unions the tools and resources they need to succeed and I know I have the skills and experience to do so.
Over the past year, I have served our union as a rank and file organizer and leader with our Graduate Employees Union. Since 2020, I have worked as a Lead Organizer and Project Manager for the Sacramento Central Labor Council AFL-CIO where I ran union-organizer training, political education workshops, and built statewide strategic tables of unions and worker advocate organizations. I am a trusted union educator, organizer and coalition builder. During my tenure, I have built power with the full breadth of our working class movement, including housekeepers, electrical workers, classified employees, public sector workers, faculty, undergraduate students and beyond. It is because of this experience and dedication to leadership that I am confident I could serve this union well as President of our local.
Our union thrives off the strength of the diversity of our workforce. As one local, we bring together a variety of workers from different industries that all face unique issues. Despite being separated by contracts, types of work, and being spread across three states, I believe that through coalition we can build a stronger union than the one we have right now. Organized Labor and workers across the United States are experiencing unprecedented attacks with the stripping away of collective bargaining rights, assaults on freedom of speech and expression, and heightened precarity of workers of varying immigration statuses.
As a student of the UMass Labor Center, I have been organizing with the Pioneer Valley Worker Center and with unions across the UMass campus to establish an ICE Watch Rapid Response Network at our university. In Sacramento, I served as the President of Pride at Work, an AFL-CIO constituency group dedicated to improving the lives and advancing the issues of LGBTQIA+ workers. With this experience and as your UAW 2322 President, I plan to embrace the differences in our union and build relationships with the members of unions whom we work beside. Only full solidarity amongst the working class will be enough to protect our jobs and enforce our contracts.
Whether you are a caretaker, housekeeper, food service worker, administrative support staff, or a graduate student employee, we all deserve a strong union and the opportunity to work with dignity.
GEO Co-Chairs
Char Nim
They/Them
I’m Char Nim, a Master’s student in Anthropology and I am running for GEO Co-Chair. I am very happy to be running on a slate of active organizers and leaders: Aidan Khelil (Co-Chair), Christophine Claypool (Mobilization Coordinator), Terrell James and Lyndsey Saunders (Membership Organizers), Fei Han and Nina Fernandes (At-Large Steering Members).
I’ve been involved with GEO for the past 2 and a half years as an active member of my department, in various committees, and now as Membership Organizer. I have been in Western Massachusetts for 6 years now and find grounding in political education practices, learning from grassroots organizers.
My vision as co-chair is rooted in a union in which members have tools to truly step into their power as workers to win real, material change. I’ve learned this only happens when leadership is united in one thing–centering what members actually want and need. Our strength comes from rank-and-file workers claiming their power, not from top-down decisions. Especially right now, we are facing major repression and fear. We need to be united to truly defend ourselves and fight back.
What if everyone felt they could participate in ways, spaces, and languages that they felt most powerful and articulate? Alongside my slate, I hope to:
- Work to defend our jobs and statuses, from misclassification to threats against international students, with member-driven campaigns.
- Continue coalitional work that works to break down the barriers (i.e. masters/PhD, international/domestic, funded/unfunded, faculty/students, employment status) that the university uses to divide us.
- Root our organizing in popular education principles where members and departments have tools to lead and organize organically.
- Summer retreats and training so we are able to hit the ground running come fall on issues we need to ensure for future bargaining.
- Continue building our housing justice work (because nobody should be choosing between rent and groceries).
I have spent the past year strengthening connections with other campus unions through multi-union solidarity actions, workshops, and trainings + building relationships with local organizations, particularly around housing and legal resources, because of many shared struggles.
Especially now as federal funding cuts and immigration threats escalate alongside University’s policies to profit off of students, these connections are how we survive. When allied workers and our campus siblings ask US ‘How can we support graduate workers?’ It’s an indication that our power grows when we organize beyond just our graduate circles.
In addition to internally organizing, we must look beyond just the immediate concerns of current members. Across the country, workers are waking up to collective power as class consciousness grows. This moment demands bold, principled organizing. I am interested in continuing to deepen our alliances with other campus unions and community partners and bringing back better communication structures. But first, we must move past internal divisions that distract from our shared goals. Our campaign is ready to build this stronger, more united union together.
Aidan Khelil
He/Him
I’m Aidan Khelil, a PhD student in the Physics department. I am currently a steward for the Physics department and a Co-Chair of the Stewards Assembly. I’m very proud to be running for GEO Co-Chair alongside Char Nim, and I’m delighted to share a slate with Chrissy Claypool (Mobilization Coordinator), Fei Han and Nina Fernandes (At-Large Steering), and Lyndsey Saunders and Terrell James (Membership Organizer).
As Co-Chairs, Char and I will rebuild membership’s trust and belief in our union’s ability and willingness to fight uncompromisingly for our rights. Our platform is based on the following goals:
- Democratizing organizing spaces
- Student protections, especially for international students
- Job security & workload protections
- Clear, consistent, and concise communication to all members
- More affordable housing
- A livable wage of $45,000/year
- Accessibility and ADA compliance across campus
- Organizing around grievances
The University has been violating our contract and eroding the power of our bargaining unit by misclassifying hundreds of jobs that were previously performed by union workers into positions called “graduate hourly” positions. We believe that the university’s stance is anti-worker. All graduate students should be GEO-eligible. These contract violations in conjunction with the growing federal attacks on free speech and research funding make it important that we have a strong, fighting union that prioritizes and protects its workers.
As one of the Physics stewards, I organized department check-ins where students shared issues and difficulties in their workplace. We then brought these concerns to the department head and organized meetings where the faculty expressed their plans to remedy the issues raised.
Previously, I was a member of GEO’s Bargaining Committee where I conducted financial research comparing UMass to 16 of our peer institutions. This research jumpstarted our organizing for a living wage of $45,000 per year for all graduate workers. To that end, we coordinated a move-in action in August 2024 to petition parents of incoming students and received around 900 signatures.
To address communication accessibility, I updated and restructured the GEO website, focusing on accessibility, readability, and organization. As a result, we saw the largest number of online membership forms signed in recent GEO history. On top of maintaining the website, I will revitalize the Communications Committee to revamp all of our union’s social networks to provide consistent, clear, and concise messaging to better involve our members.
While our union has made significant gains to improve our working conditions, we have a long way to go in order to provide workers with what they need to live in the Pioneer Valley. Our position is that GEO leadership should be facilitators of the broader memberships’ needs rather than its executive authority. Through our organizing platform, we will recruit, identify, and retain member leaders from departments to put the power back into members’ hands.
It’s time that we put the power back into the hands of members because workers deserve a union that cares.
-Aidan
Mobilization Coordinator
Chrissy Claypool
They/She
Fellow members,
Greetings, my name is Chrissy, I am a PhD candidate in Organismic & Evolutionary Biology (OEB). I am running for Mobilization Coordinator to strengthen leadership, rebuild trust, and foster community in our union. As Mobilization Coordinator, I will help the union run efficiently and effectively. I have extensive experience in our union as a Steward for OEB and as a Bargaining Research & Proposal Coordinator. As a committed member of the bargaining team, I empowered countless members to advance our contract campaign and saw the entire process through to the end, winning material changes for members such as the elimination of the graduate service fee.
This past year saw a departure from so many norms that we should expect from our leadership, but I have many ideas on how to improve our union:
BUDGET: We have not seen a budget in years. These are your dues dollars – you deserve to know where they are going. To restore transparency around GEO finances, I will convene the Finance Committee, send updates, and present an operating budget for members to review because allocation of our union’s finances should be determined democratically.
INVOLVEMENT: Our union is people-powered, so we will re-invest dues back into members by addressing issues such as food insecurity. To boost attendance at meetings and events, we will provide members with earlier notice and real meals. I also want to create new digital spaces for members and re-form the rank&file caucus to foster member dialog.
MEMBERSHIP DRIVE: Our membership rates have declined markedly under the previous leadership due in part to a failure to conduct effective orientations at the beginning of the year. My plan is to prioritize orientation preparations this summer to be more effective and informative for incoming graduate workers. Because even existing members struggle to stay involved, I will launch an ‘Orientations Redux’ for returning graduate workers who don’t remember their orientation, never had a reason to get involved, took a break and want to get involved again, or simply want a refresher.
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS: Member involvement is vital, yet many members, myself included, are confused by and frustrated with the procedures at general membership meetings. Major reform for membership meetings will improve clarity around the process and ensure that all members are heard and understand what is happening and what exactly is being taken to a vote. It is my priority to make these spaces more inclusive and less hierarchical so they are facilitated in a way that is more collaborative, democratic, and conducive to the union-wide discussions indicative of a grassroots organization.
I am pleased to be part of the CARES slate alongside Char, Terrell, Lyndsey, Nina, Fei, and Aidan – fine people with a proven steadfast dedication to our union, and strong candidates whom I support. I will strive for a functional, cohesive team regardless of who members ultimately put into each position. We are one union, we are all on the same side.
In solidarity,
Chrissy
Membership Organizers
Lyndsey Saunders
She/Her
My name is Lyndsey Saunders and I am asking for your vote to be elected Membership Organizer of our Graduate Employers Union. I am humbled to be running for Membership Organizer alongside my colleagues, Char Nim, Aidan Khelil, Terrell James, Chrissy Claypool, and Nina Fernandes. While our recent wins during our last contract campaign provided more important protections for a majority of graduate workers, we need to continue to build our power to protect each other from federal attacks on freedom of expression on campus, budget cuts that impact funding lines, and contract violations from Principal Investigators. Our organizing platform includes:
- Reinvigorating the rank-and-file
- Rebuilding the stewards network
- Providing our union the resources it needs to set us up for success at the table.
Over the last few weeks, graduate students have faced unpredictable changes to our collective working conditions and overall sense of safety. We are advocating for every graduate student. It is crucial that we take steps now to develop networks of support that can extend beyond the bargaining unit. Our colleagues with graduate hourly contracts or master’s degree students who still generate revenue for the university (but aren’t GEO-eligible) are an important demographic that has also been susceptible to university bargaining decisions and funding threats. As Membership Organizer, I will build upon efforts made in our previous bargaining campaign to ensure every graduate student is GEO-eligible and can access the full benefits of union membership.
Further, member experiences vary greatly by race, gender identity, department, citizenship status, access to financial support outside of our contract, sexual orientation, and many more important factors. Approaching the role of membership organizer with these experiences in mind can only make us stronger, especially considering how closely our intersectional experiences as graduate students here are intertwined with the success and day to day operations of GEO as a whole.
I hope to replicate some of the success we have had in Sociology to encourage a stronger community and an activated membership base across our union. We have approached organizing using two equally important tactics. First, we have thrown well-attended socials where members can go to have fun and build community. Second, we have conducted organizing meetings where member issues can be heard and we can brainstorm grassroots solutions. If elected, I will use our union’s resources to provide you and your departments with training on moving your coworkers into action and workshops on how to build relationships with each other.
Something that makes us unique as a membership is the vast amount of intellectual power. From data analysis to music composition, we are a talented and capable membership and there should be room for everyone to contribute what they can in a way that feels rewarding and empowering. I would like the opportunity to help each member in each department find the contribution they are able to make to strengthen our collective organizing power.
Thank you for your support, and I look forward to fighting alongside you.
In solidarity,
Lyndsey Saunders
Terrell James
He/Him
My name is Terrell James, and I’m excited to run for one of the membership organizers leadership positions. I’m running alongside Char and Aidan (Co-Chairs), Lyndsey (Membership Organizer), Chrissy (Mobilization Coordinator), Nina and Fei (At-Large Steering Committee Officers). I currently serve as one of GEO’s Co-Chairs and have been active in our union since 2021. My experience as both a rank-and-file member and an elected leader has given me a deep understanding of our union’s strengths, as well as the areas where we need to grow. Our organizing platform includes:
- Strengthening our union’s organizing with other unions on campus, such as MSP and PSU
- Re-engaging members to build them as leaders and active participants within our union, such as encouraging departmental organizing drives
- Rebuild our committees and caucuses that are inactive that are meant to address the workplace issues and concerns of marginalized student workers.
- Organize against federal attacks on freedom of speech and funding lines, in addition to the university’s attempts to undercut our bargaining power
With current federal actions and management’s decisions that threaten our job security and livelihood in the country, it is crucial to get organized not just internally, but to also strengthen our coalition with other unions. As co-chair, I’ve helped organize multi-union events, rallies, and Know Your Rights trainings. My focus has been on building our strategic partnerships so that we can use our collective power to address the many collective challenges we currently face.
As a membership organizer, I will help identify, recruit, and develop members within departments and labs to strengthen our internal organizing drives. Our slate is committed to rank-and-file member engagement and participation through developing structure tests and providing folks the resources they need to conduct department meetings and social events. Over the past few years, I have heard concerns from marginalized students about workplace issues in their department and our union’s failure to resolve them. To address these concerns, I am working with members to rebuild the international student caucus with the goal to make it a member driven space that builds out ways to protect the international and immigrant communities on campus from federal actions.
Membership numbers and meeting attendance are low and that tells us something important. We have work to do to build our strength. Our slate will achieve this by organizing department meetings to learn about the challenges that graduate workers are experiencing and supporting them in developing solutions to those problems. We will also talk directly with members to learn what their vision is for our union and to develop them as organizers.
This political moment demands union leadership that not only shows up—but fights back alongside its members. If you want a GEO leadership team that is truly ready to stand against repression, vote for our slate.
At-Large Steering
Nina Fernandes
She/They
I’m Nina Fernandes, a PhD candidate and department steward in Epidemiology and a proud rank-and-file member of GEO. I want to serve as a member of GEO’s steering committee for 2025-6. I am honored to share my candidate slate with Char Nim and Aidan Khelil (co-chairs), Chrissy Claypool (mobilization coordinator), Lyndsey Saunders and Terrell James (membership organizers), Fei Han (steering committee), and Sofia Cardenas-Cantu(local president). My organizing credentials include founding the STEM Caucus, hosting the Stand Up For Science rally and National Public Health Day of Action with the Public Health Activism and Leadership Stewards, and collaborating on this year’s Housing and Childcare Stroller rallies with GEO and our campus unions.
As a member of the steering committee, I will collaborate with my slate and all GEO members to build and exercise our collective power to protect ourselves and our communities from the current U.S. administration. My first priority is the safety and material security of our members, starting with protecting our jobs. Only 12% of UMass’s operating budget comes from federal grants, but as we saw during the COVID-19 response, the university tends to cry austerity while seizing any opportunity to pad its bottom line. Furthermore, our membership is already experiencing political violence and repression, particularly international students, students of color, LGBTQIA+ students, and disabled and/or neurodivergent students. GEO must wield our collective power in service of our membership- anything less is a dereliction of duty.
The necessary precondition for exerting our power is creating a democratic, member-led structure for information sharing and decision making. That’s why we will ensure that we have a schedule of monthly GMMs set at the beginning of the year, consistent and clear communication, a functioning website, and community-building events that members actually want to attend. I will use GEO resources to help members get what we need to survive- food, housing, transportation, childcare, and an empowered union.
GEO must enforce our contract to prevent exploitation and abuse. This means proactively looking for and quickly handling cuts in contract hours and overwork spurred by funding cuts, connecting international students with legal and physical protections, and fighting for freedom of speech on our campus. If elected to steering, I will expand my work as a department steward and member of the grievance committee by organizing grad hourly contract workers in misclassified positions and preparing group grievances to enforce ADA compliance across campus.
GEO cannot continue its myopic focus on short-term interests of current dues-paying members. Attitudes toward labor unions in the U.S. are shifting as our population’s class consciousness expands. With strategic and principled organizing, GEO can seize this opportunity and make incredible gains. We must build stronger relationships with other campus unions and community organizations in order to collaborate effectively. Perhaps most importantly, GEO must heal our culture of infighting and petty squabbles so that we can pursue our shared vision.
Fei Han
They/Them
My Name is Fei Han and I’m a second year PhD student in the department of sociology. I’m proud to be running for At-Large Steering Committee member alongside Char Nim and Aidan Khelil (Co-Chair), Lyndsey Saunders and Terrell James (Membership Organizer), Chrissy Claypool (Mobilization Coordinator), and Nina Fernandes (At-Large Steering).
I joined UMass and GEO in the middle of the 2023-2024 contract campaign, where I saw the power we had as a united union, and the potential within our numbers. I’ve been a proud rank-and-file member and organizer ever since, where I would phonebank and conduct walkthroughs as part of the Contract Action Team to grow our organizing network across various departments.
While GEO had made strides during our last contract campaign, we have also seen infighting that has fractured our power. We deserve better as graduate workers and we need to move past factionalist tendencies. With cuts on federal funding and risk placed on international students, we are in ever urgent need of our union to support us. Yet we are the ones who empower the union. By identifying enthusiastic members to work together, my vision for GEO is for it to be, sooner rather than later, a strong and cohesive union that has the ability to fully protect its members as workers, domestic and even more so international. As a member of the steering committee, I will make it a personal mission to make sure that we put in our utmost effort in every grievance, every action, and every opportunity to mobilize our members to bolster the strength of our union. Having oversight as a member of the steering committee, I will not tolerate inaction and idleness from staff, and see to it that they deliver whatever membership demands. Leadership should and need to be held accountable to the roles they were elected to do.
My other plan is to make our union more accessible. As an international student, I understand first-hand the barriers to getting involved in GEO. Union jargon, technical and legal, as well as acronyms freely thrown around disoriented me when I first joined GEO. I believe that our union has failed to conduct outreach in the proper language and context to a great number of international workers, who are either not members or unengaged. The International Student Caucus is an important space for mobilizing international workers and I intend to bridge that gap by holding relevant information workshops, creating easy-to-understand introductory pamphlets, and providing general support to international students. Since last semester, I have been involved in efforts to revitalize that space, and we have had successes in making the caucus a place where students can support each other, receive valuable information, and be introduced to our union.
In these challenging times, we must, all the more so, be a strong and cohesive union that is prepared to fight whatever comes its way, not as atomized individuals, but as a powerful collective.