GEO MASS MEMBERSHIP MEETING: THURSDAY JAN 31, 7PM RACKHAM AMPITHEATER (4th Floor)

Come to the MASS MEMBERSHIP MEETING to ramp up the contract campaign. We’ll discuss where we’re at with bargaining and what the remainder of the term looks like. With 5 WEEKS until our contract expires, it will be a chance to share concerns, strategies and platform priorities! As one of the largest labor unions on campus, we need to work together as a union to make important decisions in upcoming weeks: should we extend our contract if the university fails to negotiate with us in a timely manner? Will we consider possible job actions if we don’t get what we want? PARTY AFTER in the Tap Room at Arbor Brewing Company, with music from fellow GEO member DJ Fuzzy Logic!

GEO BARGAINING: THURSDAY JAN 31, 11AM TO 4:30PM, MICHIGAN LEAGUE KOESSLER ROOM (**NEW** LOCATION this week only)

Show GEO solidarity at any time from 11am to 4:30pm on Thursday! The union has taken the lead in bargaining, presenting multiple proposals and responding to the university’s weak counter-proposal on child care. With NO COUNTER-PROPOSALS last week, the university MUST provide responses to GEO’s eight(!) remaining proposals on Thursday, or they will breach the ground rules set by the bargaining teams. So, come to the Koessler Room at the League (yes, the LEAGUE) to show the university that we want some answers.

Share and Enjoy

Read about last week’s bargaining session in this edition of At the Table! At the January 24 bargaining session, the Union was disappointed by the administration’s failure to bring any counterproposals to the table. GEO and UM have both already passed all of their initial proposals across, and GEO also passed its counterproposal to UM’s counterproposal on the child care subsidy. This week, expect more countering and countering of countering!

Next bargaining session: Thursday, Jan 31, Michigan League, Koessler Room, from 11 am to 4:30 pm. Don’t feel obligated to attend ALL of this “marathon” bargaining session – come and go when you have time!!!

Share and Enjoy

At the Table for the 4th bargaining session between GEO and the U, held January 17, 2008, is now online! Read all about GEO’s demands for wages, tuition waivers, and summer bridge pay.  Among the demands are a 9% increase in employee salaries for 2008-2009, and a 9% increase for the remaining two years of the contract cycle.  At the bargaining session, the University also presented their counterproposal to GEO’s childcare proposal and presented proposals for four articles they are opening up for negotiations, including the Grievance Procedure article and the GSA Rights article.

Next bargaining session: Thursday, January 24, 2008, 2:30-5 pm, Hussey Room in the Michigan League

Share and Enjoy

At the Table Issue 3 is now available: read about what happened at the 3rd bargaining session, held January 10, between GEO and UM!  At that session, GEO passed across its proposal for a healthcare plan that would keep premiums at zero for all employees, as well as freeze the current level of co-pays. Also included in the proposal are better access to vision and dental plan, plus lifting the cap on visits for mental health care and physical therapy.

Share and Enjoy

GEO met with UM’s bargaining team for the second negotiation session on Dec. 13. GEO’s team was backed up by 49 members who came to support the union and observe the proceedings. Among the proposals passed across the table were those regarding the removal of LS&A’s 10-term rule, posting of jobs on a central university website, anti-bullying language, and better accommodations for employees with disabilities.

For a full report, read the latest edition of At The Table, our bargaining update.

Next bargaining session: Thursday, Jan 10, location TBD (keep checking back!!)

Share and Enjoy