Fourth Bargaining Session
Today, the GEO Bargaining Team (BT) and the UIUC Administration held their fourth bargaining session. Thank you to all members who attended! It was standing room only–making a strong statement to the Administration about your commitment. Please read below for more information on what happened today and what comes next.
NEXT BARGAINING SESSION: Tuesday, June 6, 2017, 9:00am-12:00pm, Illinois Fire Service Institute (11 Gerty Drive, Champaign).
Key takeaways from today’s session:
The Administration stated an intent to change our tuition waiver protections, but will not say what kind of change they want to make or when they want to make it. We asked them several times to elaborate or explain, and they refused. We told them how alarming this was to us, and they still declined to explain further.
The Administration presented a counter-proposal on non-economic provisions. They are calling this “comprehensive,” but it isn’t. We reiterated the need to see their truly comprehensive proposal, including all economic provisions.
We formally rejected their previous piecemeal proposals for individual articles. These proposals did not meet our needs, nor are we willing to sign them without seeing their full proposal. How could we agree to anything not knowing what’s out there–especially if tuition waivers are under threat?!
We asked questions about their counter-proposal on non-economic provisions and requested more information.
We elaborated on our rationale for our expanded non-discrimination language proposal. They think the minimum protections under state and federal law are enough. We don’t. We think our members deserve better.
What Comes Next:
Please attend the next bargaining session: we need you!
The Bargaining Team represents you at the table. We look to you for input when we go to break out sessions. The more people in the room, the better informed our decisions at the table.
Attending bargaining sessions is the best way to actively engage in the negotiation of your wages, healthcare, and other protections. It is perfectly acceptable to come late or leave early from a bargaining session if you can’t stay the entire time. Just being present demonstrates our unity and strength to the Administration. You can even bring your work if you want. Coffee and food will be provided.
The BT and the Administration agreed to meet for our next bargaining session on Tuesday, June 6, 2017, from 9:00am to 12:00pm at the Illinois Fire Service Institute (11 Gerty Drive, Champaign). We will have a carpool to make sure all members who want to attend can do so. Email barg@uigeo.org if you need a ride.
If you can’t make it to the bargaining session, you can still keep up with bargaining updates by attending GEO committee meetings and general membership meetings, following GEO on social media, and reading GEO emails.
More Ways to be Involved with Bargaining:
Talk to your GEO department Steward
Attend a Bargaining Team meeting
Attend bargaining sessions
Talk to your GEO colleagues
If you have questions about bargaining or the BT’s proposal, attending a meeting is the best way to address them. You can reach us at barg@uigeo.org. All members are welcome!
See the GEO event calendar for future Bargaining Team meetings, bargaining sessions, and other events. Add it to your Google calendar by searching for geo@uigeo.org. Bargaining Team meetings and bargaining sessions are open to all members. Please contact the Bargaining Team (barg@uigeo.org) with any questions.
Call for Testimonials
One powerful tool in bargaining is member stories, and we want to hear from you! If you have a story related to our contract, email barg@uigeo.org to share it with the Bargaining Team.
Our pillars of bargaining are protecting tuition waivers, raising wages and eliminating fees, ensuring quality healthcare, and promoting access and equality, which includes creating childcare support, strengthening our nondiscrimination statement, and expanding parental, bereavement, and visa/immigration leave. If you have an experience to share about these (or other!) issues, please consider coming to the bargaining sessions and voicing it. If you do not feel comfortable speaking in the session, that is OK too. With your permission, someone else can read your written statement without mentioning you as the author. You can indicate to the Bargaining Team how you want your story shared.
Follow GEO Online:
Website: www.uigeo.org
Twitter: @geo_uiuc
Facebook: @uigeo @geosolcomm
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