FULL CONTRACT BARGAINING STARTS MONDAY!
FULL CONTRACT BARGAINING STARTS MONDAY!
Subject: Full contract bargaining, membership drive, and member shoutouts
***March 4, 2022***
Table of Contents:
Announcements:
Events:
Announcements
Congratulations to our members who won the HRI Fellowship!
The Humanities Research Institute has awarded fellowships to 7 graduate students for the 2022-2023 academic year. Here is the link for the list of graduate fellows. Once again congratulations to our members! Don’t forget to congratulate your colleagues!
#NoAmerenShutoffs Campaign Update
Data from state filings show that there were no Ameren shutoffs in December or January! This is while other power utilities in the state were shutting off residents for nonpayment. In addition, 5 congressional candidates in Illinois and Washington have so far signed onto the #NoAmerenShutoffs Congressional Candidate pledge so far! The pledge is to pass the Maintaining Access to Essential Services Act of 2021 which is in the Finance Committee according to correspondence with Congressman Rodney Davis after the Champaign County Board passed the utility shutoffs resolution with the help of GEO members. The Act would, among other things, wipe utility debt and stop pandemic utility shutoffs nationwide. As Spring break approaches, it is highly encouraged that members contact congressional candidates in their communities about signing onto the pledge.
[alt text: a purple poster with black borders. In the background are the myriad unions and community organizations supporting the campaign including GEO. Overlaid on top is black text with a blue and pink shadow reading “No Ameren Shutoffs”]
EVENTS
Full Contract Bargaining, Monday, March 7, 12pm-3pm
GEO’s full contract bargaining begins Monday, March 7th, from 12-3 PM CT! At this session, GEO's Bargaining Team will present their full contract proposal to the administration. The Bargaining Team will be negotiating with university administration on topics of access and justice, wages and waivers, and health and safety in our contract.
All members are encouraged to attend bargaining sessions with the administration. It is imperative that we pack the (virtual) room as a display of our strength and organizing capacity! RSVP for the session here: https://tinyurl.com/GEOBargSess1
[Alt text: Blue poster with orange bullhorn on the top right. Big text in alternating white, white with black borders, and orange says: “FULL CONTRACT BARGAINING SESSION #1 3/7/22”. Underneath this says “PACK THE SCREEN!” in orange. Under this says “GEO's Bargaining Team will be negotiating with university administration on topics of access and justice, wages and waivers, and health and safety in our contract.” To the right of this is the GEO logo in white. At the bottom is orange text that says “RSVP here: https://tinyurl.com/GEOBargSess1”]
March Membership Drive
Participate in GEO’s March Membership Drive to help our union win a stronger contract! This month, we are encouraging all current members to recruit at least one new member. The goal is to help build power as we enter contract bargaining. Prizes available for everyone helping with recruitment, including stickers, t-shirts, and pizza! Track your recruitments here: https://forms.gle/iTeeSVR2phmAKKj87. Email sc@uigeo.org with questions.
[Flyer image description: Colorful circles filled with cartoon people’s faces are connected by dotted lines on a white background. The black, red, yellow, and blue text reads, “GEO Membership Drive! | Help recruit members | Win prizes | Strengthen the union | Email sc@uigeo.org with questions and to track recruitment”]
Come celebrate International Working Women's Day!
Organized by your peers from across campus: March 8th, 5:00 pm at the Quad (by the Union). Bring yourself and (if you like) something to share and exchange: a story, something you made, a book, a snack… Also join for: an open mic; making your own poster; adding to a board of rights and struggles; singing together!
In Solidarity,
Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: geo@uigeo.org