New Year, New Contract! Bargaining session, info session, paid organizing opportunities and more!

***January 18, 2022 - 156 days since our contract expired***

Bargaining Session #20 & Rally: New Year, New Contract! (Jan 26)

It’s 2023, and GEO has now been bargaining with university administration for 10 months for a fair contract including wages over inflation, fee waivers, year-round healthcare coverage, workplace safety, and access and justice. At our last bargaining session on December 15, GEO asked university admin if they would be willing to jointly pursue mediation, a process where a neutral third party is called in to help the bargaining teams move closer toward agreements and expedite the bargaining process. The admin rejected this request, claiming that there are “too many issues on the table.” But this distance between the parties is the very reason why mediation is necessary! If the admin actually wanted to move negotiations forward, why would they reject mediation?

After the admin spent nearly 6 months refusing to provide a full proposal followed by 4 months of refusing to pull items out of a proposal to reach agreements, violating GEO’s contract and labor law, we are gathering in 2023 to demand that they turn a new leaf and negotiate with GEO in good faith! It’s a new year, and graduate workers need a new contract now! Come out to show our collective power to win a fair contract on Thursday January 26th. Rally will be 1-1:45 PM at Illini Union Main Quad. Bargaining Session will be 1:45-5 PM at Illini Union Ballroom.

[Flyer with white background, blue border, blue box with white text that says Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) rainbow fireworks at the top right, and yellow megaphone bottom left]

Working Action Group Informative Workshop (Jan 19, tomorrow)

Interested in helping plan the New Year New Contract rally? Would you like to learn about how to develop tactics and organize protests and direct actions, from sign making, chants, outreach, police liaising, accessibility, and more? Then join the Working Action Group (WAG) Information Session on Thursday Jan 19 at 5 pm at the GEO office (809 S 5th St, McKinley Foundation) / online (https://meet.google.com/kxy-cnqs-kbb). Food will be provided! Email dietary restrictions to officer2@uigeo.org

More info on WAG: WAG develops tactics and actions to increase the mobilizing capacity and leverage needed to win our bargaining demands. Actions we’ve done in the past include protests, marches, rallies, and digital campaigns to make the demands of our members visible. WAG is currently mobilizing members to win a successful contract with the administration including wage increases, expanded healthcare coverage, and protections against overwork. WAG is a great committee even if you’re new to GEO and prepares all members with the political education needed to show the administration that the University WORKS because WE do!

[Image features 9 GEO WAG members holding a large banner outside of Memorial Stadium which reads “HEY ANDREAS, WHY WON’T YOU PAY US? POVERTY PAY IS KILLEEN GRAD WORKERS. FAIR CONTRACT NOW!”]

GEO Bargaining Information Session (Feb 2)

GEO will hold a Bargaining Information Meeting Thursday, February 2nd, 6-8 PM in Siebel Center for Computer Science 1404. Dinner will be provided. Open to all Graduate Students. Get information on bargaining, ask Bargaining Team questions and share input and ideas. Small groups will be facilitated in several languages Including: Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese, and Italian. You do not have to be a GEO member to attend. If you have questions you would like addressed at the meeting, write them in this form.

[Dark blue flyer with white text, yellow GEO logo on top and QR code on bottom left. Text is typed out above flyer.]

Your Union <3 You: Grad Student Party (Feb 10)

GEO will have a Valentine’s/Palentine’s party on Friday February 10th 8 pm - 12 am! Come join us at the Independent Media Center in downtown Urbana (202 S Broadway Ave, Urbana, IL 61801). There will be free food and beer, games, and excellent dance tunes (click here to add your song requests). Plus ones are welcome to join!

[Pink flyer with string of pink & red hearts on top. Red text says “Your Union Hearts (image of a heart) You: Grad Student Party. Below is black text with location, date, and time listed above. Black GEO logo on the bottom left and red speech bubble says “chat with us”]

Grievance co-Officer Nomination

On January 25, 2023, 6pm, the Grievance Committee will be holding a vote on the nomination of a new Grievance Co-Chair to GEO’s Coordinating Committee. The Grievance Committee is the body tasked with enforcing the union contract and helping GEO members navigate and resolve issues with the UIUC administration.

The nominee is ben wallis, a third-year History PhD student, GEO steward, and Grievance Committee member who has participated in the committee’s business for several months now. He is interested in helping the Grievance Committee work more efficiently during this very busy and important time for the union. In his down time, he loves reading and napping. All members are encouraged to participate in this meeting at the GEO office at 809 S Fifth St. or online. You can get a link to the online meeting by emailing Dante, the current Grievance Officer, at grievance@uigeo.org. ben will be present to take any questions and hear concerns from members.

Mini Mercadito

Calling all first-gen undergrad, graduate, and transfer students!

Head over to La Casa on January 27, to pick up free new & gently-used appliances, school & office supplies, formal wear, winter wear, and other dorm-ready goods!

The Mini Mercadito is an event offering first-gen undergraduate, graduate, and transfer students essentials such as winter wear, home goods, and kitchenware. If you or your department would like to donate items, or if you would like to contribute additional funds, please email Stephanie Perez at smg8@Illinois.edu

If you are interested in organizing similar mercaditos or mutual aid events, please email solcomm@uigeo.org

Organize with your union! Paid Organizing Opportunity

Are you a UIUC graduate student/worker? Organize with your union and get paid to do it! Spring 2023 Organizing Fellow applications are now open! See the full ad at https://tinyurl.com/GEOFellowsAdSp23 and apply at https://tinyurl.com/GEOFellowsAppSp23. Deadline: January 27. Questions? Email us at geo@uigeo.org or cc@uigeo.org! Help your union build the power we need to win a contract that provides all grad workers with livable wages, healthcare, and job security for all 12 months out of the year!

In Solidarity,

Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: geo@uigeo.org

News and GEO-L