Bargaining Session #5 - Summary
At Session #5 on July 9, 2026, 81 GEO members braved the heat of Latzer Hall to participate in bargaining.
What happened at the session?
The University Administration brought a package proposal adopting a substantial amount of GEO’s proposed language on disciplinary procedures, dues deductions, and grievance procedures. GEO’s bargaining team asked clarifying questions about the administration’s proposal.
GEO also brought our own package that combined hours of work, non-discrimination and anti-bullying, distribution of information, and health and safety procedures. GEO’s package mirrored the movement that Admin made in previous sessions by addressing some of Admin’s primary concerns, while retaining the intent of all our proposals.
ℹ️A package proposal is a proposed combination of articles which must be accepted or rejected together.
Admin previously didn’t understand that health and safety was an issue for grad workers, and asked for examples of issues members have faced. In response, Will Wightkin, a GEO member in the sciences, gave a moving testimonial on the chemical and contagion hazards they face in their lab on a daily basis. They described broken floor tiles that can harbor human contagion if samples are spilled and volatile chemicals stored in cabinets for decades, causing discomfort and potential risks to the workers around them.
“The language the GEO is proposing regarding Health and Safety would provide research assistants like myself the protections and framework we need to make our workplaces safe,” said Will. “Research assistants deserve to do their work without worrying about what chemicals they are breathing in.”
The administration asked questions about why we retained our language on various proposals, including non-discrimination. The GEO BT explained why clear and thorough language is essential for protecting our extremely diverse membership.
What’s next?
Come to Bargaining Session #6 on Monday, July 20, 1:00-4:00 pm in the Illini Union Ballroom. GEO’s BT plan to bring a response to the administration’s package proposal. The administration re-stated that they might bring an economic proposal on July 20 or the following session on August 6th.
What you can DO:
Attend the next session—bringing along at least one-coworker—on July 20, and wear your GEO shirt (or get one at the door).
Provide feedback on bargaining by filling out this questionnaire.
Have you experienced an issue related to the topics being discussed at bargaining? Share your story by emailing barg+testimonial@uigeo.org. Testimonials are worker stories shared at the bargaining table to elevate the voices of members. They are an important tactic in negotiating a strong and fair contract.
