Comments for Welcome to the GEO Website http://www.uigeo.org Graduate Employees' Organization at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:49:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on Workload by Jasmine http://www.uigeo.org/workload/comment-page-1/#comment-23641 Jasmine Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:49:04 +0000 http://new.uigeo.org/?page_id=464#comment-23641 Hello, Will a Spring 2013 tracking sheet be provided? I used the Fall 2012 to keep my supervisor aware of my hours last semester and have been waiting to see an excel sheet is available for this semester. Thanks, Jasmine Hello,

Will a Spring 2013 tracking sheet be provided? I used the Fall 2012 to keep my supervisor aware of my hours last semester and have been waiting to see an excel sheet is available for this semester. Thanks,

Jasmine

]]> Comment on Tentative Agreement Reached by Resolution in support of Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | Graduate Students United http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/27/tentative-agreement-reached/comment-page-1/#comment-14092 Resolution in support of Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO), University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign | Graduate Students United Thu, 29 Nov 2012 05:01:58 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1928#comment-14092 [...] we just heard the good news that our friends at the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) reached a tentative contract [...] [...] we just heard the good news that our friends at the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) reached a tentative contract [...]

]]> Comment on Tentative Agreement Reached by Bulletin-GEO and Administration Reach Tentative Agreement | Campus Faculty Association http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/27/tentative-agreement-reached/comment-page-1/#comment-13930 Bulletin-GEO and Administration Reach Tentative Agreement | Campus Faculty Association Wed, 28 Nov 2012 02:51:17 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1928#comment-13930 [...] Nov. 27 GEO announces tentative agreement- visit GEO  site:  http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/27/tentative-agreement-reached/ [...] [...] Nov. 27 GEO announces tentative agreement- visit GEO  site:  http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/27/tentative-agreement-reached/ [...]

]]> Comment on Tentative Agreement Reached by Stephen Kaufman http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/27/tentative-agreement-reached/comment-page-1/#comment-13916 Stephen Kaufman Wed, 28 Nov 2012 01:15:51 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1928#comment-13916 Congratulations on winning a battle that never should have needed to have been fought. If the faculty had your backbone and the administration had your integrity, UIUC would be a far better place. Well done!! Stephen Kaufman Emeritus Professor Congratulations on winning a battle that never should have needed to have been fought. If the faculty had your backbone and the administration had your integrity, UIUC would be a far better place. Well done!!

Stephen Kaufman
Emeritus Professor

]]> Comment on Highlights from the IL Labor Board decision by Caitlin http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/16/highlights-from-the-il-labor-board-decision/comment-page-1/#comment-12136 Caitlin Sat, 17 Nov 2012 07:04:34 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1900#comment-12136 This is literally a beautiful thing. So glad to see it up here. :) This is literally a beautiful thing. So glad to see it up here. :)

]]> Comment on Open Letter to GEO Members by » Highlights from the IL Labor Board decision Welcome to the GEO Website http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/15/open-letter-to-geo-members/comment-page-1/#comment-11962 » Highlights from the IL Labor Board decision Welcome to the GEO Website Fri, 16 Nov 2012 19:47:04 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1888#comment-11962 [...] It’s a good read – and a profound 3rd-party rebuttal to the nonsensical letter sent out by the Administration [...] [...] It’s a good read – and a profound 3rd-party rebuttal to the nonsensical letter sent out by the Administration [...]

]]> Comment on Open Letter to GEO Members by Lauren2012GEO http://www.uigeo.org/2012/11/15/open-letter-to-geo-members/comment-page-1/#comment-11691 Lauren2012GEO Fri, 16 Nov 2012 03:04:53 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1888#comment-11691 Here's a response that was sent to the Provost from a fellow grad student (let's all write back!): Dear Sir/Madam, I am an international PhD student from Spain that is currently enrolled in a PhD program at your university. I am, as many others, TAing for a living. It strikes me to receive an email such as the one you just sent, because I've been getting very mixed informations on the topic, I hope you can help me clarify. You say that you are commited to continuing the TA and RAship system, my question would be: why do you then refuse to write it in the contract that GEO is bargaining? You address the concern that GEO raises about not paying 'enough' money. I am an international student and I have had to prove (twice now) that I have enough funds myself to cover the gap between the salary the University pays for my 50% appointment and the minimum that the university requires from me. It strikes me as surprising that the salary you're giving is below the minimum amount you yourselves think is required to live here. It's even worse that I had to ask for money to my parents to prove I can make up for the difference. There's also several different versions of the raising of the salaries during the last years. Do you have an official document that explains (with the real numbers) how the increase is has happened? As I understood it was way below the inflation and also it's part of the bargain right now, so having official numbers will surely help me understand. I thank you for the last paragraph, since I also believe it's not necessary to strike and that negotiation and mediation are the best way to get to an agreement. However, as of right now, it looks like the university is been pushing the mediation off the table for some time and has failed to recognize the mediator's judgement about GEO having legitimate claims. The only reliable information I have comes from the GEO, so I hope you can help shed some light onto my questions or else I will be forced to strike for my rights and the rights of all new international students that, like me, will have a hard time surviving AND then have to prove that they have more funds than those you give as a university requirement. Looking forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely, X Here’s a response that was sent to the Provost from a fellow grad student (let’s all write back!):

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am an international PhD student from Spain that is currently enrolled in a PhD program at your university. I am, as many others, TAing for a living.

It strikes me to receive an email such as the one you just sent, because I’ve been getting very mixed informations on the topic, I hope you can help me clarify.

You say that you are commited to continuing the TA and RAship system, my question would be: why do you then refuse to write it in the contract that GEO is bargaining?

You address the concern that GEO raises about not paying ‘enough’ money. I am an international student and I have had to prove (twice now) that I have enough funds myself to cover the gap between the salary the University pays for my 50% appointment and the minimum that the university requires from me. It strikes me as surprising that the salary you’re giving is below the minimum amount you yourselves think is required to live here. It’s even worse that I had to ask for money to my parents to prove I can make up for the difference.

There’s also several different versions of the raising of the salaries during the last years. Do you have an official document that explains (with the real numbers) how the increase is has happened? As I understood it was way below the inflation and also it’s part of the bargain right now, so having official numbers will surely help me understand.

I thank you for the last paragraph, since I also believe it’s not necessary to strike and that negotiation and mediation are the best way to get to an agreement. However, as of right now, it looks like the university is been pushing the mediation off the table for some time and has failed to recognize the mediator’s judgement about GEO having legitimate claims.

The only reliable information I have comes from the GEO, so I hope you can help shed some light onto my questions or else I will be forced to strike for my rights and the rights of all new international students that, like me, will have a hard time surviving AND then have to prove that they have more funds than those you give as a university requirement.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

X

]]> Comment on GEO Local 6300 stands in solidarity with the campaign to close Tamms Supermax Prison by Bobbi Trist http://www.uigeo.org/2012/09/14/geo-local-6300-stands-in-solidarity-with-the-campaign-to-close-tamms-supermax-prison/comment-page-1/#comment-8803 Bobbi Trist Tue, 18 Sep 2012 04:15:57 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1720#comment-8803 Dear Fellow Union Activists, Thank you for your courageous stand on the closure of the Tamms Supermax facility. The torture of some to support the employment of others can never be justified. I hope you will be an inspiration to other locals to support Tamms' closure and the move toward social justice that its closure could represent. Dear Fellow Union Activists,

Thank you for your courageous stand on the closure of the Tamms Supermax facility. The torture of some to support the employment of others can never be justified. I hope you will be an inspiration to other locals to support Tamms’ closure and the move toward social justice that its closure could represent.

]]> Comment on GEO Local 6300 stands in solidarity with the campaign to close Tamms Supermax Prison by Johanna Ryan http://www.uigeo.org/2012/09/14/geo-local-6300-stands-in-solidarity-with-the-campaign-to-close-tamms-supermax-prison/comment-page-1/#comment-8760 Johanna Ryan Fri, 14 Sep 2012 23:24:28 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1720#comment-8760 THANK YOU for taking a brave and humane stand! No, the labor movement does NOT have to support every anti-worker, anti-human measure from wars to prisons because it "creates jobs." In fact, it's suicidal for us to do that. I hope your resolution is the first of many! THANK YOU for taking a brave and humane stand! No, the labor movement does NOT have to support every anti-worker, anti-human measure from wars to prisons because it “creates jobs.” In fact, it’s suicidal for us to do that.

I hope your resolution is the first of many!

]]> Comment on Administration puts price tag on basic contract rights: rally for Access and Equality August 16! by » All Out to Access and Equality Rally Tomorrow, August 16, 8:45 am! Welcome to the GEO Website http://www.uigeo.org/2012/08/03/administration-puts-price-tag-on-basic-contract-rights-rally-for-access-and-equality-august-16/comment-page-1/#comment-8474 » All Out to Access and Equality Rally Tomorrow, August 16, 8:45 am! Welcome to the GEO Website Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:58:41 +0000 http://www.uigeo.org/?p=1694#comment-8474 [...] MORE INFORMATION on negotiations or on what the bargaining team will be negotiating tomorrow, please see our post below.  For GEO members, more specific contract information is also available [...] [...] MORE INFORMATION on negotiations or on what the bargaining team will be negotiating tomorrow, please see our post below.  For GEO members, more specific contract information is also available [...]

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