I teach two lab sections this week, both on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the other GSI does the same.

We talked about it together and with our professor, and decided that we would hold class. We’ve sent out a ctool announcement with some accomodations:

• we booked the room for an extra drop-in after the walkout.
• email submission of assignments so people don’t have to enter Dana.
• extra office hours to help explain the lab material after the walkout.

I hope that will also make it clear that we’re not expecting people to show up, and won’t sanction those who don’t.

I’ve taken some flack for the hypocrisy of holding class while otherwise supporting the action. Frankly I don’t mind. The idea of not teaching the class got explored and for a couple of reasons it isn’t in the cards. I’m thrilled that my other classes are getting formally or informally canceled, but in my own case I’d much rather do some things than nothing to support the work stoppage. I’m not inclined to make the perfect the enemy of the good.

So I’ll see you on the picket lines. And in class. Or in make-up sections.

What are other people doing?

Hugh

GEO Headquarters has put together a comprehensive Walk Out FAQ about job actions, bargaining, etc. Follow the link for the full document. Below are the highlights and SNRE specific questions.

What is a job action? Is it different from a strike?
Any action in which we use our labor power to put pressure on the Administration is a job action. A strike is a job action in which we walk off the job and withhold our labor for an indefinite period of time. We sometimes use terms like “strike ballot”, “strike platform”, and “strike vote” even when the job action being considered is very different from an open-ended strike.

What’s this about violating our contract? I’m scared…
We had a contract which expired March 1st. We extended it to March 17th, and finally to this Monday March 24th. GEO wanted to keep the contract in place until the very last moment, so that employees would have security as long as possible. However, negotiations have reached an impasse, and so we will likely let the contract expire on Monday, March 24th. so that we can begin a job action without being in violation of our contract. You can’t violate a contract that is expired!

If there is a walkout, will we get paid?
The university does not have to pay us for hours not worked. Legally, they can withhold a day’s pay for every day not worked. But in the past they have NOT done this, we have been paid even for days on strike. It is VERY difficult for the university to figure out who exactly missed how many days and to calculate the amount to be deducted from a thousand or more paychecks at different fraction allocations. For a two day walk out, it would probably not be worth it.

What about job security?
Hundreds of GSI’s cannot easily be replaced, and we would also demand that our new contract include a ‘no reprisals’ clause, meaning members can’t be penalized for participating in the job action. The university honored this clause in the 1991 contract after two job actions.

But SNRE has no job security to begin with?!?
In SNRE we have a unique situation – we have many more applicants than jobs, and our department will not guarantee funding. Because people have some very legitimate concerns about job security, we encourage everyone to do as much as they feel comfortable with. Talk with your supervising faculty member about how you will handle a walk out. They may want to support GEO, and a compromise can make you both look good!

Here is a list of things that GSIs can do:

• A full walk out
• Hold classes off campus
• Devote part of your teaching time to explaining the strike
• Move your office hours off campus
• Hold discussion section on c-tools (directions for chat rooms and discussion boards)
• Let your students leave early
• Don’t answer e-mail during the walk out
• TAKE A SHIFT ON THE PICKET LINE

The last one is most important. The University will not know if you meet students at Pizza House, it will look like class is canceled. But showing support on the picket line is very visible and will affect the negotiations.

I’m a GSRA, how does this affect me?

GSRAs and students on fellowship buy into the same group health care plans that GSIs do. The same benefits that GSIs get are usually extended to GSRAs and fellowship students. GSRAs aren’t represented by a collective bargaining unit. However, they have usually benefitted from GSI contract negotiations. If you are a GSRA, you’re support is valuable, and you stand to gain from this negotation too.

Has GEO ever gone on strike or had a walk out?
In its 38 year history, GEO has authorized several strikes; it has only actually called a strike once. In 1975, GEO went on strike for 4 weeks to win our first contract with the university. In 1987, 1991 and 1993, affirmative strike authorization votes were enough to win acceptable contracts and ensure the integrity of the Union. During each of the last several contract campaigns, GEO has held one day walkouts.
Can I go to my own classes and continue with my research if we walkout?
Our aim in a strike or walkout is to shut down the university. We want to have as strong an effect as possible throughout the university. You can support your fellow GSIs by holding your meetings off campus, working from home, and not crossing their picket lines.
Won’t a strike or walkout just hurt undergrads and not the administration?
Withholding our labor sends a powerful message to the administration. We teach 40% of the contact hours that undergraduates experience and do nearly all the grading and evaluation. A strike demonstrates that fact very effectively! Once every 3 years, undergraduates have to miss a discussion section. In the long term, however, all undergrads will benefit from a better GEO contract. Better paid GSI’s are better teachers! Also, U of M students are very competitive for graduate school, some of them may be joining our ranks soon, and will then be able to have health care and other delicious treats.

Many folks at the meeting mentioned that they were wondering how to raise the issue of a walk out with their undergraduate students. As our president has so rightly pointed out, winning hearts and minds IS the key to victory. GEO has created a Talking Points Sheet with some suggestions for a smoother conversation.

• Explain how the walkout will affect them (assignments, due dates, etc.). Don’t worry undergrads, nobody’s grades will suffer!
• Reassure them that you aren’t here to recruit, and they don’t have to agree with you. If they DO want to help send them out on the picket line with us!
• Explain where the 9% raise comes from: The university’s financial aid office estimates that it costs $15,980 to live in Ann Arbor for a year. The median GSI salary is $15,199. A 9% raise will meet the estimated cost of living and corrects for currently high inflation rates.
• GSI salaries are not what is causing tuition hikes. The U of M has a 7 billion dollar endowment, and many schools with smaller endowments give full rides to students with family incomes under $60,000 (Duke, Dartmouth, and Brown). U of M has a lot of money, and it can choose to support both GSIs and undergraduates. Patrick O’Mahen of the GEO organizing committee explains in this nice editorial.

We also have this form letter for you to send your students. Copy, paste and edit to taste!

Dear (Your Class Here),

Many of you have probably heard that the Graduate Employee’s Organization (GEO) may stage a walk out for next Tuesday and Wednesday (March 25th and 26th), and some of you probably have questions about how that will impact this particular class. GEO is currently renegotiating our contract with the University, but progress has been slow and many important issues, like health coverage and child care, remain unresolved. To demonstrate our commitment to making improvements in our contract, GEO has planned some job actions, including a walk out. The work stoppage will be for two days only; it’s like a symbolic strike for limited time period. One reason we think this is better than a prolonged work stoppage is because it will affect our students less. Our goal is to take a stand on salary and benefits, not to penalize our classes. We want to maximize our message to the administration, while minimizing our impact on our students.

We are very committed to undergraduate teaching, and we want to be sure your learning isn’t compromised. In this class …..

(Explain how this will affect your class in particular, (changes in due dates, assignments, etc). If you are teaching during the walk out, you can say something like “However, just because I can’t support the walk out by canceling class, doesn’t mean that you can’t. If you choose to support GEO by not crossing the picket line, then your absence will not affect your grade in this course. We appreciate all the support we can get!”)

I appreciate your understanding in this matter. It is a very difficult decision to walk out, and we don’t take it lightly. Members actually vote twice on whether or not to hold a job action! If you want more information about how contract negotiations work or about the issues on the table, I would be happy to talk with you. If you want to get involved, there are lots of ways to do that too. Thanks very much for your support, and I’ll see you in our next class.

Sincerely,

Your Name Here

SATURDAY, MARCH 21:

• GET THE REST OF THE PICKET SHIFTS FILLED! Stop by after 1pm to make calls to supportive members about signing upfor a picket shift. We’re doing well, but could use even more peopleout for even one shift. Please take a few calls!

GEO: 330 East Liberty Street, Suite 3F 734.995.0221

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Spam should be in a can, not in your inbox. To reduce the amount of spam reaching our fellow SNREds we’re putting together this blog to keep folks informed about the GEO contract negotiations and potential walk out. Check it for updates and resources, and we’ll do our best to keep you informed. The GEO official website is also a great source for information and resources.