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News :: Labor |
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Unions unite as the University continues to stall on employee contracts! |
Current rating: 0 |
by Colleen
Email: ccolleen (nospam) uiuc.edu (unverified!) |
24 Aug 2006
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Pressure mounted for the University’s administration on Tuesday as local and university unions marched together in solidarity to demand fair bargaining and mediation for the thousands of workers currently employed at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. |
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Workers and union members from across central Illinois descended in mass on the Alma Mater in a visible display to show their disapproval of the administration’s stalling and union-busting tactics. In possible anticipation of and response to the community outrage, University President Joe White appeared on WILL’s radio program, Focus 580, earlier that morning. Responding to listener’s calls to discuss his views on the impending demonstration and University’s unions ongoing bargaining, President White declared his “respect” for University employees before dropping a thinly veiled threat of outsourcing University jobs if economic compromise in union contracts are not met.
Union members reacted with frustration during the demonstration to President White’s comments, challenging the administration to demonstrate that “respect” for University employees in the bargaining process by providing better health care, living wages, and benefits to all of its employees. The University has also frozen all wages for graduate employees for the fall of 2006 pending the finalization of a new contract with the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO). This union-busting tactic, which prevents employees from receiving any raises until bargaining is complete, has not gone unnoticed by members of the GEO of which 40% can not afford health care for their children.
For more information and updates on the GEO’s bargaining with the University, visit-
http://www.uigeo.org/
President White’s comments from Focus 580 can be heard at
http://www.will.uiuc.edu/willmp3/focus060822b.mp3 |
This work is in the public domain |
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Re: Unions unite as the University continues to stall on employee contracts! |
by Grad Student
grad (nospam) gradmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
24 Aug 2006
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Just wanted to say that it was exciting seeing the different unions coming together on this beautiful day. Worker solidarity goes a long way in the face of the corporatization of higher ed across the country. I hope to see more of the actions in the coming weeks. |
