How are we going to fight to protect our contract?
Over the past year, the University has launched three illegal and immoral attacks on the contract we fought so hard to win:
We need to get together and decide how we’re going to say, “NO MORE CUTBACKS!”
Come to the Membership Meeting!:
North Campus: Wed., 10/22, 7 pm, 1017 Dow Auditorium
Central Campus: Thurs, 10/23, 7 pm, MI League Ballroom
The UM reported a $22.5 million profit in its health services division for 2003 to the Regents. Read the University Record article by UMHS PR person, Kara Gavin: http://www.umich.edu/~urecord/0203/July21_03/09.shtml
I just talked to Benefits about the summer premiums. Yes, we are going to be charged for them. Here is the worst of it. They will be deducted from the last pay check for the winter term in one lump
sum.
I do not know if this is true for those with summer GSI appointments. I was told that the last paycheck of the term will take care of the balance due for the summer. That is a steep chunk taken out of one paycheck. If you want to call benefits yourself, their phone number is 615-2000 (M-F 8am to 5pm). I was also told that the fellowships are being handled by Mcare directly. I need to call that office to find out what they are doing. I do not think the benefits office knows what is going on with the fellowships since different people who call get different answers.
A Manifest Destiny for Labor via CounterPunch
“Since unions are supposed to be organizations of workers, we at CounterPunch thought the members might like the opportunity to review a document cobbled up by five union presidents outlining big plans to spend the workers’ money, consolidate their unions and revamp institutional labor — whether by breaking with the AFL-CIO or destroying it and remaking it in the image of this particular gang of five is not entirely clear.”
The Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals (AGEL), which is made up of all the graduate employee unions affiliated with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), is having a conference coming up soon: October 17-19 in Philadelphia.
It should be a great chance to hang out with other activists and talk about common issues across campuses, as well as help out our sisters and brothers at Temple and Penn with some actions.
A contingent from GEO will be driving down (probably leaving Thursday night and getting back Sunday night).
If you are interested or want more information, contact Dave Dobbie