Dear URPE members,

Thank you for your valuable feedback on the poll about participation in the URPE@ASSAs 2025. We write to you with information on recent developments and the efforts of the Steering Committee and Conference sub-committee with regard to URPE sessions.

It has, unsurprisingly, been the overwhelming response of the membership that URPE should not cross picket lines. Indeed, for those worried that this was ever contemplated, please know that crossing picket lines was never an option for the Steering Committee.

At this point, we are recommending that URPE presenters and members planning to attend URPE sessions cancel their hotel accommodations and find alternative places to stay, if your current accommodation is in a conference hotel that is on strike, has authorized strike, or is at-risk. Please consult this link (type San Francisco in the search bar) https://www.fairhotel.org/ for the status of your hotel. We believe that there is still sleeping availability in other non-striking, non-at-risk hotels, but these are likely further away from conference locations. We urge acting now to secure your stay.

Non-participation in the conference in its current form does mean that we will likely not be able to be on the program. The AEA has, thus far, indicated that if we do not hold our sessions in the hotels that are striking or at-risk, then we lose our ability to be on the program. They have also been categorical in stating that they cannot obtain alternative meeting or event spaces. There are ongoing efforts to re-negotiate being on the program, alongside other progressive organizations such as ICAPE, IAFFE, AFEE, LERA etc. These organizations are also in the process of polling their members. We will share more information as it becomes available. If the AEA remains unflinching in its refusal to let us remain on the program, we will send an email out advising URPE members to withdraw from the ASSAs completely. A full refund of pre-registration is possible before December 3rd.

Since we are quite clear that we will not be participating in the ASSAs in their current form and it is likely that we will not be on the program if the AEA does not allow us to relocate, we are working with other heterodox economists and organizations to find in-person alternatives. However, relocation of our sessions to other venues is likely to be expensive and URPE has financial constraints that will limit these options. We are also exploring the possibilities of collaborating with other organizations (such as ICAPE, IAFFE, and AFEE) on co-hosting and expense-sharing and will share information on these if they work out. Please know that we realize the immense costs and sacrifices that URPE members have made to be able to attend the ASSAs, and we are doing our utmost to find alternative locations so that the planned URPE sessions can be held. We will also issue letters and an alternative program for the URPE sessions, for folks receiving university funding to attend a conference. For those whose reimbursements depend on attending the ASSAs in particular, we regret that URPE can no longer be the vehicle for doing so. We suggest presenters download the current version of the program from the ASSA website now as some evidence of having been selected the URPE@ASSAs.

Some members have noted that the strike may be resolved before the ASSAs take place. Please know that requesting the withdrawal of organizations who are participating in the ASSAs is an active boycott strategy that UNITE-HERE Local 2 is using (we have been in touch with the union), and solidarity requires that we join them in this struggle. That is, a flurry of boycotts by people planning to stay in or use these hotels might in itself contribute to the union’s bargaining power and lead to a resolution of the strike. The question at this juncture, therefore, is how we can support UNITE HERE Local -2 in achieving this outcome, and we can do so by refusing to cross picket lines. In addition, the URPE SC is only able to make decisions based on the information we have at this current juncture, and before December 3rd, in order to minimize the financial impacts on conference attendees.

Some members have indicated a worry with respect to future participation in the ASSAs and the implications for the number of ASSA sessions we are allocated. While the AEA has hinted that future sessions will not be impacted, we are seeking a written guarantee of the same. Despite this risk, however, we think that crossing a picket line as a radical organization is simply untenable.

Lastly, we are exploring options to join UNITE-HERE Local 2 on the picket lines and show our support more actively. We will update the membership on this aspect once we hear back from them.

We hope that this information is helpful as you make your decision with regard to the ASSAs. We will communicate with more information, once we have more to share. Please know that the SC is working very hard on exploring viable alternatives in order to avoid a complete cancelation of conference sessions.