STRIKE BEGINS MONDAY 8:00a.m.

***February 25, 2018 -- 195 days since our contract expired on August 15th***

Table of Contents:

• Strike Begins on Monday

• Bargaining Update

Remember, you have a legal right to strike without retaliation. If your department, supervisor, or any faculty or staff attempt to intimidate, coerce, or otherwise influence your decision to strike, this is a violation of your legal rights under the Illinois Labor Education Relations Act. Please report any such violations to grievance@uigeo.org. We will always have your back. 

Strike Begins on Monday

Because the Administration has refused to negotiate a contract that secures membership priorities, we will be going on strike, beginning Monday 2/26 at 8:00am. Our picket lines will go from 8:00am-5:00pm every day until we secure a fair contract. We will be meeting at the Eternal Flame Pillar in between the English Building and Lincoln Hall on the Main Quad to assign picketing locations. Everyone, GEO member or not, is welcome to join us on the picket line. 

In order to WIN, we need to withhold ALL of our labor and have a mass presence on our picket lines. Now is the time to commit to supporting each other for as long as is needed to win.

Bargaining Update

Thank you everyone for your organizing work! Everyone who committed to our strike, signed up for picket shifts, did office visits, and showed their support and solidarity have put us in a great position to be prepared for a powerful strike and win a great contract for our membership!

At the beginning of the bargaining session today, the GEO presented a new comprehensive proposal to the Administration and gave them two hours to provide a response. The Administration sent over a proposal that made no real changes from their previous proposal, illustrating that they’re not interested in bargaining a fair contract that protects tuition waivers. For a markup of the Administration’s proposal from last Friday, see this link. The GEO gave the Administration until 5:00pm to get serious and make substantial movement, especially on tuition waiver protection.

The Administration told the GEO that they would not move. At 5:00pm, the bargaining team kept its promise, left the bargaining room, and joined the rest of the GEO at the rally outside the Illinois Fire Service Institute.ok event. 

CONNECT WITH GEO!

Website: www.uigeo.org

Twitter: @geo_uiuc

Facebook: @uigeo  @geosolcomm

Instagram: @geo_uiuc

Text the word “GEO” to 69238 to receive periodic messages concerning crucial bargaining updates and other urgent information. Msg & data rates may apply. Text STOP to 69238 to stop receiving messages. Text HELP to 69238 for more information. Terms & Conditions.

In Solidarity,

Graduate Employees’ Organization

809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room

Champaign, IL 61820

Phone: 217-344-8283

Email: geo@uigeo.org

This is a newsletter for members about our recent news and events. The Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO), IFT/AFT local 6300, AFL-CIO, is a member-run labor union and represents Teaching and Graduate Assistants (TAs and GAs) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.