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Open Letter to the Board of Trustees from GEO

We, the Graduate Employees Organization of the Urbana-Champaign campus, are deeply troubled by the Board of Trustees’ decision this spring to increase tuition by 9.5%. A rise in already high tuition rates makes higher education untenable for working class residents of Illinois—a state where the official unemployment rate is greater than 11%.

Particularly troubling [...]

GEO Members Lobby Illinois Legislators for Support of Public Education

Members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO), the Undergraduate-Graduate Alliance (UGA), and the Campus Faculty Association (CFA), joined roughly 15,000 Illinois residents and union members on April 21 for “Lobby Day” in the state capitol.  Forming one of the largest rallies in Illinois’ history, participants marched around the statehouse holding signs reading “S.O.S.” and chanting [...]

Open Letter to top UI Administrators from the GEO

An Open Letter to top University of Illinois Administrators

From the Graduate Employees’ Organization

April 19, 2010

Dear Sirs and Madams,

As you know, the State of Illinois owes the University of Illinois system about $500 million, with a significant portion of that amount due to the Urbana campus. As the budget crisis has come to a head, we [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UIUC GRADUATE EMPLOYEES’ ORGANIZATION TO JOIN UC UNITED COALITION ON LOBBY DAY AT SPRINGFIELD APRIL 21

GEO SENDS OPEN LETTER TO UIUC ADMINISTRATION ASKING TOP ADMINISTRATORS TO JOIN EDUCATION EMPLOYEES TO LOBBY FOR STATE SUPPORT

Urbana-Champaign (April 19): On April 21, about 50 members of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) will join the UC United Coalition at the Illinois state capitol to lobby for increased support [...]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS UC UNITED COALITION STAGES 300 PERSON MARCH AND RALLY FOR MARCH 4TH NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS UC UNITED COALITION STAGES 300 PERSON MARCH AND RALLY FOR MARCH 4TH NATIONAL DAY OF ACTION TO DEFEND PUBLIC EDUCATION
UC United Coalition challenges University of Illinois administration to follow example of Southern Illinois University in freezing tuition

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (March 4) – On March 4, 2010, over 300 members [...]

GEO Disputes Administration Budget Claims, Releases “UI Budget Myths and Facts” Document

UC UNITED RALLY FOR AN ACCESSIBLE, DIVERSE, AND DEMOCRATIC UIUC: March 4, 2010 – assemble at Alma Mater at noon, march at 12:15, rally in front of Swanlund 12:30-12:50.  Electronic versions of flyers and posters can be downloaded here.  RSVP here, and see the event website here.  A copy of the UC United Press release [...]

GEO Call to Action on March 4

RALLY: March 4, 2010 – assemble at Alma Mater at noon, march at 12:15, rally in front of Swanlund 12:30-12:50.  Electronic versions of flyers and posters can be downloaded here.  RSVP here, and see the event website here.  A copy of the UC United Press release announcing the rally is available on this post after [...]

Champaign News-Gazette: Cuts likely for UI’s union, civil service employees

The GEO contract prevents bargaining unit members from being furloughed. The administration may seek to furlough other unionized campus workers, however, including academic professionals and civil service employees. Julie Wurth’s full article is available from the News-Gazette. The following excerpt includes a statement from GEO Communications Officer Peter Campbell:

Union officials also raised questions about the [...]

SPECIFIC EXPLANATION OF GEO AND ADMIN TUITION WAIVER PROPOSALS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: GEO REFUTES UIUC ADMINISTRATION’S CLAIMS REGARDING CONTRAT NEGOTIATIONS

TUITION WAIVERS HAVE BEEN A CENTRAL ISSUE SINCE APRIL; ADMINISTRATION REFUSES TO GUARANTEE CONTINUATION OF [...]

11/14 Bargaining Session at Institute of Aviation in Champaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: UIUC GRADUATE EMPLOYEES’ ORGANIZATION TO HOLD BARGAINING SESSION WITH UIUC ADMINISTRATION 2:30 PM, SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14 AT WILLARD AIRPORT IN CHAMPAIGN – GEO IS PREPARED TO STRIKE

GEO MEMBERSHIP TO STAGE RALLY FOR A FAIR CONTRACT OUTSIDE OF BARGAINING ROOM IN THE INSTITUTE OF AVIATION

URBANA-CHAMPAIGN (November 14): At 2:30 pm, the bargaining team [...]