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News :: Labor |
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TAs and GAs Demand Fair Pay, Healthcare as Contract Expires |
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by Colleen
Email: ccolleen (nospam) uiuc.edu (verified) |
16 Aug 2006
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Graduate Employees to University: “Bargain in Good Faith!” |
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Graduate employees at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign rallied today, demanding that the administration negotiate with them in good faith as their contract expires.
“The fall semester begins one week from today,” said Christopher Simeone, lead negotiator for the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO). “Rather than greeting teaching assistants and graduate assistants with job security and respect, the University will welcome us back with frozen wages and unaffordable health care.”
The GEO has been negotitating its second contract with the University for three months. However, the adminstration has been unwilling to compromise on wages, student fees, and health insurance costs. Without a contract, the University will freeze grad employees’ wages this semester, despite the rising cost of living.
“Nearly one third of all classes at this University are taught by graduate employees, but 40 percent of us are unable to afford health insurance for our families,” said Simeone. “We are the backbone of the U of I. We should not be forced to work without a contract.”
Place: Outside of Grainger Engineering Library
1301 W. Springfield Avenue
Urbana, IL
Time: Tuesday August 15, 1:30 PM
The Graduate Employees’ Organization represents 2,800 graduate employees at the University of Illinois. For more information, visit www.uigeo.org . |
This work is in the public domain |
