Campaign to Organize Graduate Students
UE Local 896/COGS is a democratic, rank-and-file Union. Like our national Union, UE, Local 896/COGS doesn’t just depend on the members. It is the members. At all levels of our Union – Local, Regional, and National – democracy dictates. Members directly elect all Officers, Committee Chairs, Stewards, and Delegates on an annual basis. Every major position and policy taken by the Union is debated and voted on by the members. All major expenditures must be approved by the membership. The Coordinating Committee and Bargaining and Grievance Committee are at all times accountable to the membership. Likewise, the members must be and are actively involved in furthering the goals of the Union in order for them to be achieved. This is what we call rank-and-file democracy.
If you are already a UE/COGS member, consider getting involved in one of the committees listed below or running for a steward position in your department. If you can’t make such a commitment, make an effort to attend monthly Union meetings. What every member has to say is important. If you are not currently a member of UE/COGS, talk to your departmental steward or call the COGS office and sign a membership card today. Join the Union and have a voice!
The day-to-day business of the Union is carried out by the Coordinating Committee and the Bargaining and Grievance Committee. The Coordinating Committee consists of the following officers and chairpersons: President, Vice-President, Corresponding and Recording Officer, Financial Officer, Campus Chief Steward, Area Chief Stewards (4), Bargaining and Grievance Committee Member At Large, Unity Officer, International Representative, and the Chairperson of each each standing committee (see below).
The Bargaining and Grievance Committee consists of the President, Campus Chief Steward, Area Chief Stewards (4), and one at-large member.
For stewarding purposes, COGS is divided into different areas in order to better deal with issues around the campus. To find out your area, click here.
President: Jason Whisler
Vice-President: Josh Pederson
Corresponding & Recording Officer: Allison Wanger
Financial Officer: Ben Morton
Campus Chief Steward: Cathryn Lucas-Carr
Blue Area Steward: Mark Plum
Yellow Area Steward: Kate Kedley
Red Area Steward: Judah Unmuth-Yockey
Green Area Steward: Sarah Eikleberry*
B&G Member At Large: Christopher Pickett
International Student Representative: Sai Ramadugu
Unity Committee Chair: *
Press & Publicity Committee Chair: Heath Schultz
Political Action Committee Chair: Josh Cochran
Labor Solidarity Committee Chair: Tim Robbins
Social Committee Chair: Nicholas Kelly
CGEU Coordinating Committee Co-Chairs: Barrett Gough* and Larissa Werhnyak*
Trustees: Sonia Johnson, Adam Rugg, and Melissa Zimdars
UE Regional Council Delegates: Allison Wanger, Avi Michael*, Mark Plum*
To contact any of the officers above, call (319) 337-5074 or email cogs@cogs.org
*These officers and committee chairs have been appointed and await election by the membership.