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News :: Education : Labor |
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GEO Demonstrates Growing Strength |
Current rating: 0 |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
28 Apr 2004
Modified: 08:55:11 PM |
Hundreds of GEO members and allies picket Swanlund, deliver message to University legal team.
The Swanlund Administration Building was the site of a four-hour long picket today by the Graduate Employees' Organization. Protesting the lack of substantive progress after nearly a year-and-a-half of negotiations, hundreds of GEO members, along with faculty and staff allies, fought high winds with picket signs and chants of indignation at the glacial pace of the talks with the University of Illinois on an initial contract for graduate employees. |
The Swanlund Administration Building was the site of a four-hour long picket today by the Graduate Employees' Organization. Protesting the lack of substantive progress after nearly a year-and-a-half of negotiations, hundreds of GEO members, along with faculty and staff allies, fought high winds with picket signs and chants of indignation at the glacial pace of the talks with the University of Illinois on an initial contract for graduate employees.
On everyone's mind was the fact that members of our sister union at the University of Wisconsin, the TAA, are currently on strike because of administrative intransigence there. While no one wants a strike, it always remains as an option when an impasse is reached.
While the University made proposals in several areas at Tuesday's negotiating session, finally having gotten to all the issues on the table in what seemed to be little more than a year-long stalling tactic, the GEO is still without a first contract since being recognized as the bargaining agent for graduate employees last year. Typical of the administration’s apparent non-recognition of the reality of the present situation is the fact that the university's negotiating team seems insistent on calling its graduate employees "students” by defining the healthcare issue as one where they wish to keep all “students” at the same level of healthcare insurance -- if the issue was that graduate employees are only students, the GEO wouldn't even be in the room talking with them about a labor contract in the first place.
The University is just as out of touch in thinking that what graduate employees currently have for healthcare, or what they have so far proposed, is adequate. GEO members with families simply cannot afford, in most cases, coverage for their loved ones. Even single graduate employees are at the mercy of fate when it comes to healthcare -- they work and live knowing that they are one healthcare crisis away from bankruptcy if they should have a major illness or accident. What is currently offered in the way of healthcare coverage by the University, along with the lack of an employer match as at many other institutions, is far behind the package of benefits offered at similar universities, leaving the state's premier academic institution increasingly non-competitive with its academic peers for the best graduate students.
Previously, the University has seemed to indicate that, if the GEO expects any more funding for graduate employee benefits, that it should go to the state legislature to request it. The GEO has done its part, recently sending members to lobby in Springfield. However, given that the University's legal team is, in fact, the state's appointed agent for negotiating a contract with the GEO, it has been considered by GEO member's that the University, if it truly lacks the funds to adequately address its employees' legitimate needs, then the University has the ultimate responsibility and should make a point of requesting such funding in its proposed budget.
As the picket was ending, the picket line marched from Swanlund to the Henry Administration Building where the offices of the University's legal counsel, and who represent the University at the contract negotiations with the GEO, are located. The intent was to deliver a message from the rank-and-file that, not just the GEO negotiating team, but the entire membership is willing to do what it takes to win an adequate first contract. It was immediately apparent that the upper levels of the University are in a rather paranoid mood.
When we arrived, there was a gentleman there who wanted to deliver a document to the office, but he had found the door locked. Despite several requests, those inside refused to open the door for either him or us. Everyone could hear mumbled voices within, but no one answered his pleas that he simply wanted to drop off a letter. Finally, very miffed that no one within was willing to communicate with him, he crammed the envelope through the mail slot in the door and left in a huff.
The GEO team was more patient. We had already decided to limit our presence to five representatives, since we knew that management was, how shall I put it, a little "sit-in shy." All day at Swanlund, the University Police had been a constant presence, although it was clear we had no intent to enter the building. So it was not surprising when who should finally respond to our persistent knocks but a rather amiable policeman. He inquired if we were there "only" to deliver a communication to Peg Rawles. Assuring him that we were only there for that, he disappeared back inside after assuring us he would let those inside, who he said were "in a meeting," know that we wished to speak with Peg.
After a few more minutes, the officer and Peg appeared, with him watching over as we spoke with her. We told her why we were there and that we also wished to thank her and the University team for all their hard work, while making clear that it was time to get the contract wrapped up. Peg graciously accepted our communication and assured us that she wanted the same thing.
It was mentioned that the current lack of a contract with the GEO is contributing to the generally falling competitiveness of the University caused by the critical budget situation. The University itself bears the ultimate responsibility for making the case in Springfield that it needs increased funding if that is indeed what is holding up a contract with the GEO.
So it was rather interesting to read in today’s News-Gazette that UI President James Stukel believes that a zero percent increase is acceptable for this year's UI budget. Given that the GEO's contract is unsettled, this must mean that the University has already set aside what it will take to sign an equitable contract with the GEO. This means the time is now for the University to put a solid and acceptable contract offer on the table. Given GEO's show of solidarity today, it would be clearly be a mistake not to do so. |
See also:
http://www.shout.net/~geo/
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