GEO Strike 2018 Day 8
***March 5, 2018 -- 203 days since our contract expired on August 15th -- GEO Strike 2018 Day 8***
Good morning! The weather today is expected to be rainy, primarily in the afternoon and evening, with a high of 44 °F (7 °C). Dress accordingly! We’ll have rain ponchos at the support stations, as umbrellas are not allowed on the picket lines. The rain didn’t dampen our spirits last week, and it won’t this week either!
Bargaining update: Yesterday, March 4th, we had a bargaining session with the administration. The administration’s bargaining team did not arrive with anything different from previous sessions so no proposals were exchanged. Our bargaining team is always willing to meet if it will move bargaining forward. We made it clear that our strike is strong and we are not backing down from our position on tuition waivers: if someone is employed doing bargaining unit work, they must receive full compensation, including a full tuition waiver, regardless of what department they are employed by or study in.The Administration knows that the stakes are high, but our strike is going strong and we will stay out as long as it takes to save our union, protect tuition waivers, and ensure access to education for all!
Everyone, GEO member or not, is welcome to join us on the picket line. Our picketing shifts are from 8-10:15 am, 10 am-1 pm, 12:45 pm-3 pm and 2:45-5 pm. Please arrive for your picket shift(s) at least 15 minutes early. All shifts should meet at the Eternal Flame Pillar in between the English Building and Lincoln Hall on the Main Quad, as before. Be sure to sign in and out with your picket captain once you are assigned! You can sign up for more picket shifts here.
Today is the start of Admitted Student Days, when applicants who have been accepted to UIUC are touring the campus and decided whether or not to come here. As the tours have been rerouted to avoid our main pickets, we’ll send some roving pickets to meet them and provide information they might otherwise not hear on their tour.
As the strike gets longer, more undergraduates will be forced to cross our picket lines. This can be frustrating, but it behooves us to direct their frustration towards the Administration rather than ourselves. Always be as respectful and informative as you can. If an undergraduate voices complaint, suggest that they repeat it to the Provost and ask their professor to move the class, and ask them to flyer or sticker the inside of the building.
Strike Support Stations will again be located at Foreign Languages Building (FLB), Henry Administration Building (HAB), and Lincoln Hall. They have food, water, hot drinks, first aid supplies, and just about anything else you can think of. Childcare will be located in the Channing Murray Foundation (1209 W Oregon St, Urbana).
Today’s rallies will take place at noon in front of Foellinger Auditorium and at 5pm in front of the Alma Mater statue.
Photo policy: Photos are allowed. If you do NOT want to be included in photos, please notify your picket captain.
Pet policy: All friendly pets are allowed (and encouraged!) on the picket lines. We have water bowls and dog treats at the Strike Support Stations.
We deeply appreciate how respectful everyone has been so far. Please continue to practice the basic picketing rules: be respectful (no harassment, no littering, etc.), be safe (no weapons, if you are harassed call 911, etc.), and most importantly, be joyful!
See you on the lines! Remember: The University Works Because We Do. Together, we can win a fair contract!
In Solidarity,
Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: 217-344-8283
Email: geo@uigeo.org
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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.