GEO Stands in Solidarity with The Lit United

The Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) Local 6300 IFT/AFT, the union that represents approximately 6,000 graduate workers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, stands in solidarity with The Lit United. Recently, workers at The Literary won their unionization election, which is overseen by the National Labor Relations Board, becoming officially recognized as a labor union.

As a union, GEO fully supports the efforts of The Literary workers to unionize their workplace. By allowing workers an officially recognized collective voice, they are able to participate in the shared governance of The Literary. From Starbucks to local independent stores, workers at coffee shops across the country are joining the labor movement through unionization. Through a union, workers gain a voice, access to transparency, and a platform to work collaboratively with employers to improve working conditions. We believe it is important that all workers have access to fair wages and safe working conditions, and unions are a crucial tool for realizing those commitments.

Workers at The Literary provide uplifting hospitality and hard work that supports a vital community space. A union at The Literary will positively impact the Champaign-Urbana community by improving these workers’ working and living conditions. As a community full of unionized workers, this would only add to Champaign-Urbana’s already vibrant labor community.

To support The Lit United, please follow them on Instagram at @thelitunited and complete their community survey to share why you support their unionization!