GEO Homepage

GEO speaks out against Daily Illini editorial

To the editors:
In an October 15th editorial entitled “GEO request: Good idea, rough timing,” the Daily Illini Editorial Board argued that while a living wage is wholly deserved, the current budget situation makes asking for it illogical. Respectfully, the GEO begs to differ.
While the editorial correctly evaluates the importance of Teaching Assistants (TAs) by noting [...]

GEO Member Survey

Don’t forget to take the 5 minute member survey in order to provide important feedback to the Bargaining Team. The url for this survey is http://tinyurl.com/bargainingsurveygeo and the password was provided to members in an October 5 geo-l email.

bargaining update

Currently, bargaining updates can be found at our bargaining website at http://www.geocontract.org/. Please check out that site for the latest bargaining news and information!
November 2008
Contract negotiations are just around the corner. The results from this survey will help the GEO Bargaining Committee develop a set of priorities which will become our Bargaining Platform. [...]

GEO Bargaining Survey

Contract negotiations are just around the corner. The results from this survey will help the GEO Bargaining Committee develop a set of priorities which will become our Bargaining Platform. Member input and involvement will be critical for producing a fair contract for everyone.
The survey is anonymous unless you choose to leave your [...]

General Membership Meeting

Wednesday, November 12, 5pm, YMCA
We’ll be building on the knowledge we shared at the last two meetings
regarding bargaining. Also, our new bargaining survey will be kicked off
at the meeting!
If you have items you would like added to the agenda, email Dave Bates.
We will be having a Special Election to elect a new Communications Officer. Nominations [...]

history

The GEO has been organizing since the early 1990’s for democracy in the workplace, better education, increased stipends, better benefits, and other changes to make life as a Teaching, Research, or Graduate Assistant better.

GEO Hosts AGEL Conference

On May 22-25, the GEO will be hosting the Alliance of Graduate Employee Locals (AGEL) conference!
All GEO members are encouraged to participate in all or part of the conference, including meals and the nighttime social activities.
If you are planning to attend, please contact Dave Beck
Click here to see the conference agenda.

State of the Union

After our April 19th General Membership Meeting, several members expressed interest in seeing the “State of the Union” address given by then co-president, Andrew O’Baoill, posted to the web. So, here it is…

School, unions still dancing to different beats

News-Gazette coverage of ongoing contract negotiations between the university and several of its unions (including the GEO)
Click the title above to read the story…

Study Shows Grad Unions Improve Collegiality

by Toby Higbie

A study by Tufts University researcher Gordon Hewitt exposes several arguments
used against graduate student unions as baseless. In particular, the study
shows that unions do not disrupt the educational relationship between
graduate students and their faculty mentors.

"These findings demonstrate that the relationship of faculty and
graduate students is not negatively affected by collective bargaining,"
said Hewitt. "Administrators [...]