{"id":6956,"date":"2026-09-24T18:33:22","date_gmt":"2026-09-24T18:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pft1603.org\/?page_id=6956"},"modified":"2026-09-24T18:49:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-24T18:49:24","slug":"dr-khalid-mahmood-candidate-statement-for-pft-executive-council-merritt-college-campus-co-chair-position","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/pft1603.org\/?page_id=6956","title":{"rendered":"Khalid Mahmood, candidate statement for PFT Executive Council, Merritt College Campus Co-Chair position\u00a0\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My name is Dr. Khalid Mahmood and I teach chemistry at Merritt College. I am excited to be considered for Merritt College PFT Co-Chair and would be honored by your vote for the reasons I outline below.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the past few years, I have been part of the <\/span>two biggest public sector organizing drives<\/b> in the country, both of which took place at the University of California system. During my PhD studies at UC Berkeley, I was an <\/span>active member of Student Researchers United<\/b>, the campaign to organize <\/span>17,000 graduate student researchers at UC<\/b>. I organized hundreds of coworkers in the leadup to and during our historic six-week strike in 2022, which culminated in a contract with <\/span>55\u201380% raises across 3 years<\/b>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For the remainder of my PhD, I was an active member of UAW 4811, where I <\/span>helped sign up coworkers as dues-paying members, enforce our contract, and take part in political action.<\/b> In 2024, I mobilized my coworkers to pass a rent control measure in Berkeley that gives tenants the right to collectively bargain with their landlord by forming tenant unions (Measure BB). We knocked on over 7,000 doors citywide, passing the measure with 56% of the vote.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I went on to work full-time as an organizer for UAW 4811 (covering UC Davis), where I was part of a campaign to organize career professional staff at UC. This effort included the <\/span>largest union election of 2025<\/b>, when a majority of 7,000 Research & Public Service Professionals voted overwhelmingly to form their union. As part of this campaign, these career staff ratified a contract in March 2026 that included <\/span>27.8% raises over 4 years<\/b>, strong <\/span>protections against bullying<\/b> and harassment, and a <\/span>clear process to avoid arbitrary return to office<\/b> mandates. In my role, I built a<\/span> campus-level organizing committee, identified and developed leaders, and helped provide workers the tools to organize<\/b> a strong, fighting union. I want to apply these same lessons at the Peralta Colleges, because I know that good working conditions make for good learning conditions for the students we all care so deeply about.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

These wins at the UC were <\/span>only possible because a majority of workers took action.<\/b> At Merritt College, I hope to help take the same approach by building toward majority union participation. I\u2019m running for Campus Co-Chair on the following platform points:\u00a0<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n