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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 01/05/2026

GASS celebrates May Day! We’re proud to be a part of the labor movement. Learn about International Workers’ Day history with our plain language post today!

Gradient grey background. There’s a light grey box with text that reads: Today is to celebrate important protests in 1886 about workers’ rights. The protests were about protecting workers’ rights. May Day is a way for all workers to remember that we are powerful when we advocate together! May Day is also called International Workers’ Day. Below the text, there’s an illustration of fists with protest signs.

Grey background with a drawing of a crowd with protest signs. Text in a grey box reads: It used to be normal to work 14 hours a day for 7 days a week. That meant no weekends or days off. Bosses said these rules could not change.
In 1886, many workers in Chicago stopped working. They said they would not keep working until they got treated better at work. Police killed some of the workers who stopped working. People got angry because police killed the workers. People all over the world started fighting for companies to treat workers better.

Grey gradient background. Text reads: Today it is normal to get 8 hour workdays. It is now normal to not work every day of the week. It is normal because workers fought hard to make companies follow rules about treating workers better.
Today, companies and bosses still say that they can not treat workers better. But that is wrong. Workers like us know that we can keep fighting to be treated better at work. May Day reminds us that workers in the past fought hard and that we can, too.

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EdSource Guild @edsourceguild.bsky.social · 13/04/2026

Like many others in America, we have colleagues afraid for themselves and their families because of immigration raids. If those fears ever became reality, we don't know if we would be given the time off we need to deal with the situation and with our mental health.

Everyone deserves time off to deal with and recover from traumatic events. "Amid immigration raids, I had to come to terms with the reality that any of my family members could disappear at any given moment. If that happens, I do not know if I will be supported to take the time I know I will need." -Reporter, EdSource

All we're asking for is a fair contract. It's been over a year since the EdSource Guild unionized, and we still don't have a contract. Guild members are sharing why reaching an agreement on a contract now is so important. What you can do: Spread the word! Like, comment, or share this post.

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ProPublica Guild @propublicaguild.org · 08/04/2026

We’re on strike today! Support our fight for a fair contract by NOT visiting the @propublica.org website or engaging with ProPublica stories today. Tell ProPublica’s management you won’t cross the picket line: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...

We're on strike! Don't visit propublica.org on April 8

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

On this day in 2022, we lost Teighlor McGee, an extraordinary activist and advocate. We invite people to take time today to remember and learn about Teighlor.

Pastel rainbow colored background. There's a photo of Teighlor McGee in the center, a smiling Black person with curly red hair wearing a yellow cardigan in front of a brick wall. Text reads: GASS remembers Teighlor McGee. 4 years ago today, we lost an incredible activist and advocate, Teighlor McGee (she/they). Though her time was cut short, she had an enormous impact on her communities and those around her. From their time working at ASAN to founding the Black Disability Collective and beyond, Teighlor’s love for their community and passion for disability justice always came through.

Rainbow pastel background. In a white box text reads: Many members of GASS had the privilege of working with Teighlor during her time at ASAN.

For all of us, we try to embody the values that Teighlor lived and the legacy they left behind, in both our work at ASAN and organizing with our union.

The Teighlor McGee Grassroots Mini Grants Program is an ASAN program named in Teighlor’s honor. This program funds disability advocacy projects that might otherwise not be able to access funding. Many of the mini grants work to improve things for autistic people of color.

In her time at ASAN, Teighlor was part of planning for this program, which is why they are named after her. Programs like this make such big differences to our community and as we work on this program, we are proud to expand on the work that Teighlor did.

Rainbow pastel background. Text reads: Today, on the anniversary of Teighlor’s passing, we encourage everyone to take some time to learn about Teighlor McGee. Think of Teighlor as you celebrate Autism Acceptance Month, as you advocate for racial justice in disability spaces, as you fight to make our world a better place.

Thank you Teighlor.
In a box, there's a quote by Teighlor: "There is a place for disabled people in community organizing, and I hope that people never forget that."

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Union of Legal Workers for Trans Liberation @ulw4tl.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

BREAKING: 96% YES to authorize a strike! U4TL members voted overwhelmingly in support of authorizing our bargaining committee to call a strike if necessary.

96% YES
to authorize a strike!
U4TL members voted overwhelmingly in support of authorizing our bargaining
committee to call for a strike if necessary

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

The Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) says: Abolish ICE! Read our full plain language statement: cwalocals.org/gass/abolish...

Light blue background. Text inside a dark blue box reads: The Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) wrote a plain language statement about ICE. You can read our full statement on our website. This post will have excerpts from the statement. Text below reads: ICE stands for “U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement”. ICE is the part of the government in charge of trying to find undocumented people and make them leave the United States. Undocumented means someone does not have the government papers that say they are allowed to live in the U.S. GASS wants ICE to be abolished. To abolish something means to end or get rid of it. GASS wants the U.S. government to get rid of ICE.

Light blue background. Text reads: ICE is more likely to hurt people with disabilities. It is wrong that ICE is more likely to hurt people with disabilities. ICE also specifically hurts autistic people. Some ways that ICE hurt autistic people recently are: ICE detained an autistic teenager in Houston, without telling his mother. ICE kept an autistic five year old outside to force her father to come out, so ICE could detain him. ICE dragged an autistic woman out of her car. ICE hurts people in ways that give them disabilities, or makes their disabilities worse. For example, sometimes people protest against ICE. ICE disables protestors by hurting their bodies with things like rubber bullets or tear gas. ICE causes disabilities when they don’t give health care to the people they detain. People can also die from not getting the health care they need. For example, many children detained by ICE died from getting sick. But if they had medicine, the children could have gotten better.

Light blue background. Text inside a dark blue box reads: It is wrong that many other disability advocacy groups stay silent about ICE. Some disability advocacy groups will say ICE is bad, but don’t say ICE should be abolished. GASS thinks it is important to share all of what we believe. GASS knows that there is no way to make ICE better or more fair. Giving ICE more training or less money from the government won’t make ICE stop hurting people. That is because ICE’s goal is to get rid of people of color in the U.S. ICE will keep hurting and killing people of color to try and achieve that goal. So GASS believes that ICE must be abolished.

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MS NOW @ms.now · 03/02/2026

"These practices must end now." Aliya Rahman, a U.S. citizen who was dragged from a car by ICE agents in Minnesota, speaks out at a congressional hearing on DHS immigration enforcement tactics.

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The NewsGuild-CWA @newsguild.org · 16/01/2026

On Friday, January 9, ICE arrested a member of our union, the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild, as part of Operation Metro Surge. He has been transferred to a detention facility in Texas, where he is awaiting action on his petition for habeas corpus. newsguild.org/guild-member...

newsguild.org

Guild member detained by ICE in Minnesota | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

On Friday, January 9, ICE arrested a member of our union, the Minnesota Newspaper and Communications Guild, as part of Operation Metro Surge.

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 16/09/2025

A probationary period is a specific time when a worker starts their new job. Learn more about probationary periods and why they are unfair here: cwalocals.org/gass/probati...

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 23/08/2025

💡 What is a labor union? What rights do workers get when they form a labor union? We made a plain language guide that talks about what a labor union is and why they matter. Check it out below!

A graphic with a colorful background and a white box. The header says, "What is a Union? Words to Know" The bulleted list says, "Bargaining: coming up with a contract for the workers and management at the place you work. Bargaining committee: members of the union who help write the contract and meet with management. Collective bargaining: the right to negotiate with management to make a contract. Discipline meeting: a meeting where management talks to you about something they think you did wrong at work. Negotiate: trying to make an agreement with someone. Organize: start a union with your co-workers. Union: a group of workers who come together to protect their rights at work. Wall to wall union: a kind of union where everyone who works at the place you work can be a part of it."

A graphic with a colorful background and a white box. The header says "What is a union?" The rest of the text says, "A union is a group of workers who come together to protect their rights at work. Some people think a union is a group from outside a workplace. They think a union will stop workers from talking to their employers. This is not true. Workers form unions. The people in a union all work together. An employer is someone who pays you to do work. Some employers say that unions are not important today. That is not true. People who are in charge of businesses also negotiate their contracts like unions. Negotiating means trying to make an agreement with someone. Both contracts talk about things like how much you get paid, when you work, what happens if you get in trouble at work, what happens if you get fired, what happens if you retire, what happens when you are sick, what happens when you want to take a vacation, how your employer will protect you, and more"

A graphic with a colorful background and a white box. The text says, "It should not be different for workers! Workers should not have fewer rights. Having a union is the only way to negotiate a contract and make our jobs a better place. Some unions include all the people who work somewhere. Other unions are just for people who work in a specific part of the company. For example, the Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) is a wall to wall union. A wall to wall union means that everyone who works at the place you work can be a part of it. Workers get a lot of important rights when we form a union. One of the most important rights we get is the right to collective bargaining. Bargaining means coming up with a contract for the workers and management at the place you work. Collective bargaining is the right to negotiate with management to make a contract. The law says your employer has to bargain with you and your co-workers after you organize.

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 28/07/2025

Our second bargaining meeting begins today! Bargaining is when a labor union and their bosses set rules to make the workplace fair. We are excited to keep going. And we will keep the community updated on our progress! Learn more here: cwalocals.org/gass/pledge

cwalocals.org

Bargaining Pledge

Formal LanguagePlain LanguageBargaining Pledge (Formal Language) — May 2025Audio version:

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Gaza Freedom Flotilla Coalition @freedomflotilla.bsky.social · 09/06/2025

SOS! the volunteers on 'Madleen' have been kidnapped by Israeli forces. Greta Thunberg is a Swedish citizen. Pressure the foreign ministries and help us keep Greta safe! Web: government.se/contacts/ X : @SweMFA FB : @SweMFA IG : swedishmfa #AllEyesOnMadleen

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 28/05/2025

🚨 Big news: GASS just kicked off our first bargaining session on May 27th! 💥 Our bargaining committee is ready to fight for what matters to all of us. It might take time — but we’re in it together. ✊ Every member of GASS believes in this pledge! 💪 #UnionStrong

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Disability justice and Palestinian liberation are connected! Genocide causes many people to become disabled. Learn more with our plain language statement: cwalocals.org/gass/palesti...

cwalocals.org

GASS’s Plain Language Solidarity Statement with Palestine

Table of ContentsWords to KnowWho Wrote This Statement?What Is This Statement About?

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 16/05/2025

Today is Nakba Day. Nakba means catastrophe in Arabic. The Nakba refers to the mass removal of Palestinians from their homeland. We are in solidarity with Palestinian liberation. Read our plain language solidarity statement here: cwalocals.org/gass/palesti...

cwalocals.org

GASS’s Plain Language Solidarity Statement with Palestine

Table of ContentsWords to KnowWho Wrote This Statement?What Is This Statement About?

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 02/05/2025

Every worker deserves a voice. Today, we celebrate a big win: ALL of our members are now officially part of our union. We’re now the Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS)—and we’re just getting started. #SolidarityForever #CookingWithGASS

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

We’re proud to share that the Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (formerly ASAU) is moving forward united and stronger than ever. 💥 New name 💥 New logo 💥 Full bargaining unit recognized Thank you to everyone who had our backs. 💜#SolidarityForever

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 01/05/2025

🎉 Big news from our union: We have a new name — Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) — and a major win. Our full bargaining unit, including previously disputed members, is now officially recognized! Solidarity works. 💪 #SolidarityForever #CookingWithGASS

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 09/02/2025

One month ago, we publicly launched ASAU! And while we were excited to quickly gain voluntary recognition, we have been disappointed in ASAN’s leadership for disputing the inclusion of 3 of our members.

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The NewsGuild-CWA @newsguild.org · 05/02/2025

🚨: Trump just fired Gwynne Wilcox, the first Black woman on the NLRB, illegally stripping the agency of its decision-making power. Wilcox is suing to be reinstated and restore worker protections. newsguild.org/trump-destro...

newsguild.org

Trump fires first Black woman on NLRB, destroying its decision-making authority | The NewsGuild - TNG-CWA

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 24/01/2025

ASAN is trying to stop 3 staff from joining ASAU. Sign our petition to show support for a fully united ASAU! buff.ly/3E7moUS

Illustration of a man with glasses looking up at a butterfly. He is labelled "ASAN Leadership" and the yellow butterfly is labelled "Workers organizing in good faith." He asks, "Is this a threat to our power that we should spend a lot of money to stop?"

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kugeldyke.bsky.social @kugeldyke.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

My workplace's Board is trying to exclude 25% of our union. These people belong in ASAU. We need your support to tell ASAN leadership that all of us belong in our union! Please sign the petition and share widely

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Julia Métraux @juliametraux.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Autistic Self Advocacy Network union has received voluntary recognition, but three members were not recognized as part of the union. @autselfadvunion.bsky.social

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

1/22/2025

Contact: Jules Good, ASAU Organizing Committee, autisticselfadvocacyunion@proton.me

Autistic Self Advocacy Union (ASAU) Wins Voluntary Recognition; ASAN Leadership Wrongly Disputes Inclusion of Some Members

WASHINGTON, D.C.-- The workers of the Autistic Self Advocacy Union (ASAU), a union of staff working for the Autistic Self Advocacy Network (ASAN) organizing with The NewsGuild–Communication Workers of America (TNG–CWA Local 39521), are thrilled to announce that we have been granted voluntary recognition of our bargaining unit. Recognition is the first step in a collaborative process as ASAU’s members and ASAN’s leaders begin negotiating and executing a collective bargaining agreement in accordance with the National Labor Relations Act.

While we are incredibly excited to have won voluntary recognition, our enthusiasm is dampened by ASAN leaderships’ decision to dispute three members of our bargaining unit. US labor laws say that managers cannot be in unions. The three ASAU members that ASAN’s leaders and hired counsel are trying to keep out of the union have the word “manager” in their job titles, but none of these people have the power to hire, fire, discipline, or make major decisions. They do not meet the criteria for a “manager” under US labor law. These three people belong in our union.

“It’s exciting to see that the work that we have put in collectively is getting acknowledged by voluntary recognition,” shared Skyler Love (he/they), ASAU Organizing Committee member and Development Manager at ASAN. “However, the attempt to exclude a quarter of the bargaining unit is unacceptable. Our union is a representation of ‘Nothing About Us Without Us’, and we understand that means all of us.”

Reid Caplan, (they/it) ASAU Organizing Committee member and Publications Manager at ASAN said, “I have been an employee of ASAN since 2016. I am proud of all that we have accomplished in that time, but have wished I could play a larger role in the decisions we make as an organization. Leaving out employees from the bargaining unit who have never had this decision-making power is unfair.”

ASAU is asking our community supporters to sign this petition urging ASAN leadership and its hired lawyers to drop the disputed members claim. We are also asking supporters to share our social media posts and spread awareness about our union and this situation. ASAU is on X, Bluesky, and Instagram @autselfadvunion and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/autselfadvunion.

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Reid Knight @reidemption.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Good news: ASAN's management and board recognized our union! Bad news: They are trying to exclude 3 members from the union (one of which is me). Nothing about us without ALL of us! Please sign this petition to make sure all of us get to be a part of ASAU.

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Skyler @atleast5bees.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

ASAN is trying to exclude 25% of our union! Please sign and share our petition to ASAN leadership!

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Matthew Cortland (they) @matthewcort.land · 15/01/2025

Hey friends, if you care about labor and disabled workers, would you do me a favor and follow @autselfadvunion.bsky.social — it's becoming very clear that they're going to need the community's attention on their unionization effort.

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

ASAU is very excited to share that ASAN’s Executive Director, Managers, and Board of Trustees have granted us voluntary recognition! Now that we are an official union, we can do more work to make ASAN better.

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Guild of Autistic Self-Advocate Staff (GASS) @autisticstaffguild.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Want to support ASAU? Please share our posts and our mission statement! Also make sure to follow us to keep up with our unionization journey.

buff.ly

Autistic Self Advocacy Union (ASAU)

Click to jump to Plain Language Mission Statement

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Killian @greenmtgirl.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Fabulous news - solidarity! #AutisticWorkers #DisabledWorkers #Unions

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Robert Chapman @drrobertchapman.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Solidarity comrades!

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motzenballer @motzenballer.com · 08/01/2025

Give these friends a follow! People with disabilities face enormous workplace challenges and the representation of a union can do so much to improve that. Hoping @autisticadvocacy.bsky.social does the right thing and recognizes them!

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Cheshire Cat ᓚᘏᗢ, @autismsupsoc.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

While many of us see the importance, value, and empowerment of having a Union that assists Autistic ppl in navigating ADA accommodation, legal actions, benefits, workers rights … it always fails to get off the ground … This could be the start of something huge: bsky.app/profile/auts...

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