Full-contract bargaining starts this spring!
Meet Your Bargaining Team
The Bargaining Team (BT) represents graduate students’ interests and demands at the bargaining table with the university administration. Members of the BT include at least one of the Co-Presidents, two representatives chosen by Stewards’ Council, the Secretary, and one member-at-large chosen by membership at a general membership meeting. BT also includes members appointed by other committees. You can learn more about the BT here.
Want to join or support the Bargaining Team? Email your interest to barg@uigeo.org.
Aaron Councilman
Computer Science, 5th year PhD student
(they/them)
I’m one of the current Co-Presidents of the GEO. I was involved previously in bargaining GEO's 2022-2026 contract, in RA and PGA incorporation, and the 2024-2025 healthcare impact bargaining. With the current state of the world, bargaining is a vital opportunity for us to voice and win what we need to protect and improve our working, learning, and living conditions.
Anthony Pineci
Computer Science, 1st year PhD student
(he/him)
My name is Pineci, I'm originally from Los Angeles. Even in my short time here, I have seen how graduate students deserve more from the university and this makes me want to do whatever I can to help. Joining the Bargaining Team, I sim to help represent the interests of all graduate workers and help improve all of our working conditions.
announced soon
Brooke Kadel
Psychology, 3rd year PhD student
(she/they)
I serve as the GEO Secretary, a member of the Grievance Committee, and one of the many Psychology Department Stewards. I was a member of the Bargaining Teams for Healthcare Impact Bargaining (2024-2025) and Research Assistant Incorporation (2025). I look forward to fighting for a stronger contract together to improve working conditions for all graduate workers!
Daniel Rodriguez Arrizon
History, 5th year PhD student
(he/him)
Over many years in GEO, I have been a steward and a part of many groups including Personnel, Grievance, and Communications committees, International Student Working Group, Black and Lantinx caucus, etc. I was also a co-president in 2023-2024. Before coming to UIUC, I was an organizer in the 2019-2020 UCSC Wildcat strike and was one of 80 workers who was reinstated after being unfairly terminated for their involvement. I’m interested in building our capacity during this round of full contract bargaining and working towards winning a historic contract.
Grace Garmire
Physics, 3rd year PhD student
(she/they)
I have served as a steward for the last 1.5 years. This summer, I was also a lead negotiator in our RA inclusion bargaining. I want to use my experience in the upcoming bargaining cycle to continue fighting for our workers’ rights. Given the current political climate, the state of research funding, and shifting attitudes toward higher education, this round of bargaining is especially critical to protect our wellbeing and job security, and to uphold the quality of research and education we provide. I look forward to serving our Bargaining Unit and fighting for a fair contract over the next year!
James Tallman
Materials Sciences, 3rd year PhD
(they/them)
I have held both TA and RA positions. I have been involved in the Bargaining Research Team since Summer 2025, including researching hours of work/overwork and wages and fees. We all benefit from a well-functioning bargaining team which can communicate, deliberate, and negotiate efficiently. I am especially interested in tasks/roles that make BT a smooth operation, such as managing data/databases and handling logistics.