Dear GEO members and supporters,

Due to our successful walkout today, which shut down activity across campus, the Administration asked to reenter bargaining this afternoon in the interest of avoiding a second day. Following a marathon session of negotiating, at 11:42pm Tuesday night we reached a tentative agreement on a new contract.

Because of this progress, the GEO Bargaining Team, empowered by stewards, activists, strike captains, and picketers has CALLED OFF the second day of the walkout Wednesday.

This is a HISTORIC contract that shows the power of organized labor. The administration has never been willing to bargain with us during a walkout before. They were also willing to engage us on particular issues on which they were previously unwilling to talk. We made huge progress in this round of bargaining, and it is all due to the power of our members and the support of other unions and workers supporting our issues. Some highlights include:

SALARIES: A combination of percentage and lump sum increases totaling 13.6% (only a percentage point less than our strike platform proposal). Salaries will increase 6.2% in the first year and 3.5% in the next two years. In the final year of the contract, a 0.5 GSI will make $17,395 for two semesters’ work.

LOW FRACTIONS: Since bargaining began, GEO membership voiced strong concern for the need to address the problems faced by those working the fewest hours and having the toughest time getting by. This contract includes several historic achievements for low-fraction employees that GEO has been working towards for decades. ALL of us will now receive zero-premium health
insurance. Low fractions will finally receive an equal hourly wage for their work. And all those working 7.5 hours or more per week will now receive FULL tuition waivers.

MENTAL HEALTH CARE: GEO members made it very clear that the University should take mental health care issues seriously. The administration has agreed to move forward by either increasing the cap on mental health office visits from 25 to 30, or by establishing a $30,000 pool to pay for those who max out their visits. GEO and the administration will meet to decide on the optimal approach.

PARENTS’ ISSUES: We continued moving toward ensuring access for student parents with increased child care subsidies and a new parental leave policy that ensures 6 paid weeks of maternity leave.

POSTING: We made significant progress in our efforts to make it easier for grads to find open GSI and GSSA positions away from their home department. From now on, we will be able to subscribe to a listserv to which all available positions will be posted (and unsubscribe when you get one).

ACCOMMODATIONS FOR EMPLOYEES WITH DISABILITIES: Through this contract campaign, we’ve raised awareness in the union and across the University about the issues faced by employees with disabilities. While we were unable to persuade the administration to immediately address these employees’ needs, we have put a process in place which will facilitate continued progress. Next year, GEO and the administration will jointly hire a GSSA whose projects will include working with employers with employees to address the barriers they face at this institution. Look for more action ahead as we continue to work with all of those across campus who are joining together to make this a truly accessible university.

The tentative agreement will be presented to the GEO membership at our March 31 Membership Meeting and sent for ratification by the entire membership. Questions and details about the contract will be addressed there.

As a union, we offer our heartfelt thanks to all the supporters who played a key role in making these historic gains possible: construction workers who took a day’s pay cut to stand in solidarity with us; students who marched on the picket lines; LEO members and other faculty who cancelled classes and respected our picket lines; Cafe Ambrosia who provided a strike headquarters for us; the great cooks from the Wobbly Kitchen who fed us; and the union brothers and sisters from around the country who sent in faxes and letters of support, and joined us in our efforts today.

In solidarity,

Colleen Woods
GEO Lead Negotiator

Helen Ho
GEO President

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