Full-Contract Bargaining Starts This April!
Second Bargaining Session:
When: April 23rd, 1-3:30 PM
Where: Illini Union Ballroom (2nd floor, North Side)
Who can come: any GEO member! We highly encourage everyone to join to see what happens in a bargaining session, see the University own bargaining team, and support your union. Remember - our power is in numbers!
Our Bargaining Pillars
These core principles guide our upcoming negotiations and represent the priorities of graduate employees across campus. Together, we are fighting for a contract that ensures Dignity for all graduate workers through the means of:
Financial Wellbeing
Grad workers deserve to thrive, not just survive, at UIUC. We will bargain for financial conditions that allow us to perform our duties well without sacrificing our own wellbeing.
Protections
Grad workers deserve to feel safe and supported on campus. We will bargain for safer conditions for our international community, adequate support and resources for international workers, as well as academic protections.
Respect
Grad workers do most of the research and teaching labor at UIUC, and we deserve respect for our contributions. We will bargain for according conditions that ensure respectful treatment from our employer.
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.
You can still join to 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.
Allie Johnon
Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences, 1st year MS stdudent
(any pronouns)
I am an active member of Solidary Committee and the Contract Action Research Team. Our union goals cannot be reached with a top-down approach; instead, we must meet our workers where they are, listen to everyone's experiences, and aim for solutions that address expressed needs. I want to join the bargaining team to fight for our coalition and secure a contract that makes our graduate community a place where everyone thrives.
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 aim to help represent the interests of all graduate workers and help improve all of our working conditions.
Arthur Paganini
Mechanical Science & Engineering, 4th year PhD student
(he/him)
I’m a PhD student and a steward. I was on the full contract BT in 2022-2023 as a caucus facilitator and a volunteer coordinator. I was also one of the lead negotiators on the RA Inclusion BT in 2025. Later as a co-chair of the Stewards Council, I served in the leadership of the RA unionization campaign. This year, I’m an Officer-At-Large, coordinating the Bargaining Research Team. I’m honored to serve on this next BT because this is the most active and important time in our union. At a time of great uncertainty and fear, our union must exercise and show discipline and enthusiasm.
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!
Cyrus Murray
English, 2nd year MA/PhD student
(he/him)
I am a TA in the Rhetoric department and an English steward. I decided to pursue English (Writing Studies) in order to be more equipped to educate and empower people to engage with the current sociopolitical landscape. I have been advocating for various issues for several years now, and my peers suggested those skills would be useful on the bargaining team. While I want to ensure we win the best contract for the majority of our members, I do not want to do that at the expenses of our marginalized peers.
Dahyun Ryu
Sociology, 1st year PhD student
(she/they)
I am an international student from South Korea. I have been in the process of formating a labor union back in my master's school, and joined events to support; organize them. I have seen how the lack of such labor unions can lead to situations where students have to suffer, and would like to take part in supporting the right of graduate student workers. My main goal along with many others is to engage with international student's situations and issues with intersectional viewpoint.
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.
Emrys Brandt
PhD student in Information Science
(he/him or they/them)
I am currently a TA and in the first year of my PhD. Having been on a bargaining team in a previous job, I know what an important time it is for the union. I am excited to work to win a great contract for our members!
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 student
(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.
Lily Dawn
English Literature, 4th year PhD student
(she/her)
Bargaining is important to me because, like many graduate instructors, I’ve taught the same courses as faculty while getting paid half to a third of what they do. I’d love to offer my experience as assistant director for the Program in Professional Writing to help in any part of bargaining where it might be useful. The underrepresentation of women on the team is what ultimately pushed me to join.
Matthew Heinrichs
Sociology, 3rd year PhD student
(he/him)
In 2024-2025, I was a co-chair of the Solidarity Committee. I am interested in becoming a part of the Bargaining Team in large part because of my solidarity work. I know how important it is for us to work in coalition, and I want to contribute to making sure that our contract has ample protections for grad workers who experience various forms of marginalization, particularly in this political environment. Centering the needs of racially minoritized, trans/queer, and non-citizen graduate student workers will help everyone prosper and make our campus and community a better place for everyone.
Spencer Hall
Communications, 1st year PhD student
(he/him)
My research focus is on labor organizing and unions. During my Master's, I was organizing efforts across University of Cincinnati, focusing on improving transparency, compensation, and working conditions for graduate employees. I’m interested in serving on the bargaining team because I believe graduate workers deserve a contract that reflects the real value of our labor and lives. My goal is to help craft a strong, enforceable agreement that ensures graduate work at UIUC is respected, sustainable, and just.