On Saturday, April 9, eight members of the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO 6300) got on a bus headed to a rally for workers rights in Chicago—this marked the last event in a series of rallies, work-ins, campus talks and other activities GEO participated in as part of a ‘Solidarity Vigil’ over the past eight weeks.  Started in response to the unprecedented attacks on labor and public education taking place in Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, and right here in Illinois—the GEO called a Solidarity Vigil to give local unionists and community members an opportunity to participate a coordinated, member-driven effort in support of the national movement to fight back against these attacks.

The Vigil began on February 21, with a rally initiated by the Campus Faculty Association.  Since then there have been three more campus rallies—which have included participation from both on campus and off-campus unions, community members, undergraduates and even local high school students.  In total, more than 500 people have attended these rallies in support of worker’s rights, making their voices heard.

In addition to the rallies, throughout the Vigil the GEO sponsored two talks, three movie nights, a meet-and-greet with the Indiana Democratic Representatives who were exiled here in Champaign-Urbana to protect worker’s rights in their state, as well as two weeks of work-ins at the Student Union.  Dozens of GEO members took part in these events, alongside faculty, undergraduates and brothers and sisters from other unions on campus.  GEO members have also joined in multiple pickets in support of the Champaign area Construction Local and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU).  We sent more than 100 of our members to Madison, Wisconsin, along with supplies for the protestors there.  More than two-dozen made two trips to rallies in Indianapolis, and we also worked hard to show our support of the Indiana Representatives while they were here in town—bringing them cookies, messages from home, and getting to know these courageous legislators.

“What strikes me about the past eight weeks is the unbelievable solidarity I have witnessed,” said Katie Walkiewicz, GEO Co-President.  “These activities have strengthened our relationship with other unions on campus, as well in the wider Champaign-Urbana community.  I have had the opportunity to talk with Champaign teachers, to march alongside AFSCME members, to hear the concerns of workers in SEIU.  It has been a powerful experience, and one that is sure to strengthen the union-movement in this community.”

While the vigil went on a bit of a hiatus during Spring Break, this past week marked a “Week of Action” to culminate the solidarity efforts.  On April 4, the GEO hosted a rally at the Alma Mater Statue—as part of a national day of action to commemorate the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his dedication to civil rights and workers rights.  The next day four GEO members headed to Springfield to urge our legislators there to support education worker’s rights.

Then on Friday, April 8, the GEO hosted a round table discussion with members of SEIU to talk about their potential upcoming work action here on campus.  Approximately 30 people joined in the discussion, and learn more about the concerns and hopes of SEIU members.

The week ended with the trip to Chicago. Also on the bus were members of other local unions including the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), the Illinois Education Association (IEA), American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and a few community organizations, who made the trip and joined with thousands in Daley Square to stand up for workers rights.

The GEO now is calling its Solidarity Vigil to a close—but that does not mean the fight ends here.  With a potential strike by SEIU coming very soon, as well as the continued attack on tuition waivers impacting many of our own members in the College of Fine and Applied Arts—there remains work to be done.  The last eight weeks have taught us much about the power of labor when we come together and unite in a common struggle.  These are lessons we will bring to our ongoing fights in the upcoming weeks, months, and years ahead.

Noon:  “Support Our Service Workers” Rally and March.  Support SEIU!  Join in a rally at the Alma Mater at Noon—we will then march to the Henry Administration Building.

7:30pm – 8:30pm: Meeting to discuss the intersections between the anti-war movement and the public worker fight. Wahl room at the University YMCA

As we approach March 19th, the 8th anniversary of the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, we hope to discuss the connection between unjust wars and occupations abroad and the current war against public workers at home. We will also brainstorm ways that we, as union members, can take action around these issues, highlighting the Iraq Veterans Against the War call-out for a March 19th mobilization to Madison, WI to stand in solidarity with workers fighting for their rights. Any other agenda points are welcome. This will be part of the ongoing GEO solidarity vigil.

9am – 2pm Solidarity Work-In at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union

7 pm: “Norma Rae” The labor film series continues with this 1979 Academy Award winning classic film about worker’s struggles in a textile factory in North Carolina. YMCA, 1001 S Wright Street, Room K-2 (basement)

Urbana-Champaign (March 8): The University of Illinois has agreed to offer emergency grants to graduate employees that were recently informed of a tax liability on their tuition waivers.  The Graduate College’s emergency grant program will accommodate these graduate employees by adding extra resources to this existing program.  Current information on the Graduate College website does not reflect the additional resources that have been allocated for these employees but these changes should be listed shortly. Emergency grants will be available in amounts to cover each individual’s need created by this tax liability.  Only affected graduate employees are eligible for these special grants. An FAQ is available here.

The Graduate Employees’ Organization, AFT/IFT Local 6300, AFL-CIO, The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, represents approximately 2,700 Teaching and Graduate Assistants on the UIUC Campus. In November 2009, over 1,000 GEO members successfully went on strike to secure a fair contract and more accessible UIUC. The GEO continues to work for high quality and accessible public education in Illinois.

For more information, please contact Natalie Uhl, GEO Communications Officer, at 317-652-7298 or natalieuhl@gmail.com. More information can also be found on our website at uigeo.org.

For the past two weeks dozens of members of the Indiana House have been living in Urbana, having fled their state to block the vote on several anti-union and anti-education bills.  These proposed laws would erode workers’ rights for both public and private sector workers, and eviscerate the funding and cede control over public schools throughout the state.  Even though a broad “Right to Work” bill is reportedly off the table, several troubling bills remain.  These Indiana Representatives need our support and Indiana lawmakers remaining at the capitol need to know that THIS STRUGGLE IS NOT RESTRICTED TO WISCONSIN.

What can you do now?

You can download and read a short FAQ on the Indiana bills here.

YOU CAN RALLY AT THE INDIANA CAPITOL ON THURSDAY, MARCH 10TH!  Buses will be provided from Urbana to Indianapolis.  We will leave from Green & Wright at 8am and return around 3:30pm.  Please email geo@uigeo.org by Tuesday, March 8th for a spot on the bus.  Anyone can take the bus. You DO NOT have to be a member of the GEO.

Let’s show the Indiana Democrats that they have our support and that standing up for the rights of workers and protecting public education is the right thing to do!

The GEO will be holding a meeting Monday March 7th, at 5:30pm in the YMCA for GAs and PGAs affected by the recent tax changes. At the meeting we’ll discuss the information we’ve received from the university about the tax situation in the last week and a half and talk about what we can do to mitigate the situation as we move ahead. This will also be a space to share any questions or concerns you have at this time. While PGAs are not in our bargaining unit, they are welcome to join us as well, so please spread the word to PGA friends and colleagues.

If you cannot attend, we will have FAQ sheets and other informational materials that you can download here and here.  You can also find a timeline of the crisis here.

We have also compiled a GEO tax listserv specifically committed to discussing the tax situation. If you are interested in joining that listserv, please email Amy Livingston, alivingston@uigeo.org.

It’s been a couple of days without an update from the 24-7 Vigil—that is because many of the vigil participants were on the road in Indiana, Ohio, and of course, Madison, supporting the ongoing struggle for workers rights on its many fronts throughout the Midwest.  Now that we have finally made it back to our computers, we write to tell you about the many places we have been, the people we have met, and the local work that continues.

The work-in at the Student Union keeps up its daily routine.  If you haven’t stopped by in a while, bring your work this week (9 am-2 pm—who knows you might even run into an old friend you haven’t seen in a while!)

On Thursday approximately 15 people from various unions on campus made the trip to Indianapolis to participate in a candlelight vigil at the Capitol.  While there, we heard from AFT President Randi Weingarten as well as from many of those engaged in the local struggle on the ground in Indiana.  We also had the chance to have Indiana union workers and community members sign a poster to bring back to the Democratic Representatives still staying strong in Urbana.

On Friday night, we presented these words of thanks and encouragement to three of the Indiana Representatives, at a gathering with GEO and CFA members.  It was an emotional evening for all involved, and for those who were there it will remain a highlight of the vigil experience.  It has renewed our commitment to support the working people of Indiana, as they engage in this historic effort to protect worker’s rights.

Also on Friday and Saturday 7 GEO members made the trip to Cleveland to attend an “Emergency Labor Meeting” with about 100 labor organizers and activists from throughout the United States.  It was a great opportunity to learn about what is happening on the ground in many different communities, to build relationships with fellow unionists, and encourage each other in this fight.  What became clear while we were there is that we must continue to focus on local struggles and to build strong connections here in our community, even as we engage in this national fight.

Finally more people made what has become the weekly weekend trip to Madison.  Michael Vederame sent this report, “Let people know that things are still ticking.  Students and teachers have put up post-it notes on all the Capitol doors talking about importance of education.  And they’re also tracing people’s bodies in chalk outlines; anyone who wants can get traced once, and they’re creating a human chain of chalk outlines around the Capitol. Each chain has a message in it; in mine I gave a shout-out to the GEO.”

The 24-7 vigil “ticks on” and we plan to keep on ticking until victory chimes out for working people in the Madison and the Midwest.  We will be in touch with updates about this week’s schedule soon.  Until then, peace and solidarity.

Update from GEO member, Michael Verderame:

I got into Madison last night (Friday) and wanted to let people know that things are still ticking.  Students and teachers have pasted put up post-it notes on all the Capitol doors talking about importance of education.  And they’re also tracing people’s bodies in chalk outlines; anyone who wants can get traced once, and they’re creating a human chain of chalk outlines around the Capitol. Each chain has a message in it; in mine I gave a shoutout to the GEO. I’ll keep you posted about today. I think about a dozen more of us are coming up today. I think it’s really amazing that we’re sending people all over–Indy, Cleveland, Madison–and also had time to host the Indiana reps last night. Best to everyone.

9am to 2pm Solidarity Work-in at the Courtyard Cafe in the Illini Union

12pm to 3pm Film screening: Cradle Will Rock; YMCA basement.

2pm GET ON THE BUS TO INDIANAPOLIS. There is a sponsored bus taking protesters to Indianapolis, leaving from Wright & Green at 2pm for a rally at the Indiana capitol building.  Return will be no later than 10pm.

6pm “The Battle for Wisconsin: Eyewitness Reports from the Frontlines”  in the University YMCA Wahl room

9am to 5pm SPECIAL Solidarity Work-In at Temple Buell Hall for the National Day to Defend Public Education and in support of our UIUC graduate employees in the College of Fine and Applied Arts.

2pm to 5pm Lobbying at the YMCA

530pm Steward’s Council meeting at the YMCA

24/7 vigil continues at the YMCA