Exciting news – Science, Technology, and Engineering Professionals (STEPs) at LBNL have achieved majority support for forming a union! Over 500 of us have shown that there is overwhelming support for forming our union, STEP-UAW, by signing union authorization cards. This is an outstanding accomplishment, only made possible by everyone who has taken the time to discuss, learn, and reach out. Having majority support puts all of us in a strong position to achieve our official union recognition.

This tremendous achievement would not have been possible without hundreds of conversations between all of us working at the lab about what is important to us, what we would like to protect, and what we would like to improve. Many of us have stepped outside of our divisions to build connections and grow an understanding of what we need, individually and collectively, to be able to achieve our mission of accelerating science and providing world-class expertise to the scientific community.

It’s important that everyone’s voice is heard in this effort. To achieve similar wins to other unions, it’s important to continue showing strong support. Can you join your colleagues by filling out a STEP-UAW authorization card?

By doing so, you are joining over 500 fellow STEPs in showing PERB, UC, and LBNL that we are serious about effecting positive change in our workplace. Your voice is important and the more we band together, the more we can accomplish.

Last, if you are curious about next steps and what the rest of this process looks like, you can start by checking out the FAQ on our website entitled “How do we form a Union?” The milestone we just achieved is step 2. Also keep an eye out for meetings to be held in the coming weeks to discuss next steps, or simply reply to this email with any questions or thoughts that you have.

In solidarity,

Abigayle Hodson, Scientific Engineering Associate, ETA

Abhiram Chintangal, Computer Systems Engineer, IC

Adrian Spucces, Principal Scientific Engineering Associate, EG

Alex Ray, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Allison Hammerschmidt, Senior Electronics Engineering Associate, ALS-U R&I

Andrew Graus, Software Developer, CESD

Andrew Puckett, Mechanical Engineer, ALS-U

Anjana Saravanan, Mechanical Engineering Associate, EG

Bill Arndt, Computer Systems Engineer, NERSC

Bufan Zhang, Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, ALS

Carlos Lopez, Computer Systems Engineer, IC

Chad Montville, Computer Systems Engineer, IC

Chris Cummings, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Christian Messe, Software Developer, ATAP

Dale Carder, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Danielle Goudeau, Scientific Engineering Associate, Biosciences

David Carruthers, Scientific Engineering Associate, Biological Systems and Engineering

David Mitchell, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

David Stewart, Senior Business Systems Analyst, Office of the CFO

Derek Howard, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Edoardo Zoni, Staff Software Developer, ATAP

Garret Birkel, Computer Systems Engineer, ALS

Gazi Mahmud, Computer Systems Engineer, Biosciences

Gregory Lemieux, Staff Software Developer, Climate & Ecosystem Sciences

Haris Muratagic, Mechanical Engineer, ALS

Henry Alvarez, Mechanical Engineer, ALS-U

Jamison Bunnell, Mechanical Engineer, ALS 2.0

Jessica Rehak, Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, Physical Sciences

Jiachuan Tian, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Jillian Hiu, Mechanical Engineering Associate, EG

John Gann, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

John Thomas, Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, ALS

Joseph Angelo, Mechanical Engineer, ALS

Joseph Tocci, Mechanical Engineer, ALS

Katayun Kamdin, Computer Systems Engineer, ALS

Kay Avila, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Linda Hout, Mechanical Engineering Associate, Engineering

Mark Kulawik, Computer Systems Engineer, Biosciences

Marshall Granados, Occupational Safety Specialist, EG

Matt Abreu, Principal Scientific Engineering Associate, ALS

Matt Hamilton, Scientific Engineering Associate, Biosciences

Matthew McCloskey, Scientific Engineering Associate, Facilities

Michael Dopheide, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Nathan Smith, Senior Mechanical Engineering Associate, ALS 2.0

Nemi McCarter-Ribakoff, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Nick Buraglio, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Noah Schwartz, Division Safety Coordinator, LD/OPS

Ohmar Sowle, Electronics Engineering Associate, EH&S

Panagiotis Zarkos, IC Design Engineer, Physical Sciences

Paul Centeno, Electronics Engineer Associate, Engineering

Paul Porter, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Paul Wefel, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Piotr Gach, Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, ALS

Remy Doucet, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Robert Hamrick, Computer Systems Engineer, NERSC

Robin Armstrong, Mechanical Engineering Associate, EG

Rohan Dhall, Principal Scientific Engineering Associate, Molecular Foundry

Ryan Knox, Senior Software Developer, CESD

Shawn Kwang, Computer Systems Engineer, ESnet

Stefan Soezeri, Mechanical Engineer, EG

Sukhpreet Kaur, Electronics Engineer Associate, ALS

Sumaira Zaman, Data Scientist, Biosciences

Supratim Mukherjee, Staff Data Scientist, Biosciences

Travis Raines, Computer Systems Engineer, NERSC

Valerie Hendrix, Computer Systems Engineer, Scientific Data

Victor Negut, Senior Scientific Engineering Associate, Physical Sciences