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.

AGEL Semi-Annual Conference
Spring, 2008
May 22-25, 2008
GEO-University of Illinois/Urbana-Champaign

Unless otherwise noted, all workshops/plenaries/etc will be located in the University YMCA Building, 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign.

Thursday, May 22, 2008

7:00-9:00 PM Informal Welcome (Esquire)

Friday, May 23, 2008

8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast & Registration

9:00-10:20 AM Introductions, Conference Overview
Introduction to AFT
(Jack Nightingale – AFT & Dave Dobbie – GEO-UMICH)

10:30 AM-Noon

a) Organizing 101
(Rob Henn)
Organizing 101 will help union activists new and old learn how to engage in a good organizing conversation for any and all purposes!

b) Leadership Development: Recruiting and retaining effective leaders (Mike Bader)

Noon-1:00 PM Lunch

1:00-2:30 PM a) Making Effective Use of Grievances: Organizing, Member Mobilization, and Contract Negotiations
(Dave Kamper - IFT & Dave Beck – GEO-UIUC)
Grievances are a vital part of what we do as unions - not just because contract enforcement by itself is important but because grievances often serve as launching pads for organizing campaigns, within departments and beyond. This workshop will explore the ins and outs of using grievances to grow the union.

b) Developing Ad Hoc Groups and Caucuses around issues and identities (Lori Serb – GEO-UIUC)
Discussion around creating conditions for caucuses that are openly organized and committed to multicultural and democratic vision within the Union. Providing resources to individuals to create collective strength around interrelated issues of race, class, sexuality and gender and carrying out ideas that improve the Union internally and challenge traditional Union strategies.

2:45-4:00 PM b) Strategic Planning and leadership retreats (Brian
Dolber – GEO-UIUC, Heidi Lawson – GEO-UIC, & Dave Cecil - GTFF)
One of two workshops being offered. Flip a coin. What the hell else you gonna do?

b) Building a Larger Community (working with other labor and community groups) (John Gergely - GEO-UIUC, Kerry Pimblott – GEO-UIUC)
We often invoke "solidarity" in email signatures and picket chants, but we don't always take the time to consider the different conceptualizations and implementations that the word encompasses. We hope to discuss both the abstract (how do we define solidarity? and with whom?) and the practical (how do we show solidarity? how do others show solidarity with us?).

5:00-7:00 Dinner at Independent Media Center
(Prof. Antonia Darder will be our guest speaker)

Saturday, May 24, 2008

8:30-9:00 AM Breakfast

9:00-10:30 AM Developing Bargaining Strategies (UMICH case study)
(Helen Ho – GEO-UMICH)
After a one day strike, GEO at Michigan signed an historic contract that included a 13.2% salary increase over three years and key protections and subsidies for childcare and mental health. Come hear their story and discuss their successful strategy.

10:45 AM-Noon a) Mapping/Charting potential members
(Dave Rowland – GEO-UMICH & Amber Cooper – GEO-UIC)

b) LeaderNet and other Online Resources
(Nate Johnson - AFT)
This session will provide an overview of the resources available on as
well as off AFT's Leadernet related to organizing, researching your
institution and negotiating contracts. Tools discussed will include AFT
bargaining calculators, the GetActive email mobilization and outreach
tool, the survey creator and more.

Noon-2:00 Lunch (1st floor, YMCA)

2:00-3:30 a) Grievances/Negotiations:Using the AFT Contract Database
(Nate Johnson, AFT Research)
This session will provide an in-depth look the AFT Contract Database
(www.aftlaborcontracts.org) which allows users to access more than 1500 AFT contracts.
We will discuss using the contract database in the context of
negotiations and grievances.

b) Political Action (Mark Supanich - TAA, Carrie Wadman - MGAA)
This workshop will focus on ways to recruit, educate, train, activate, and develop union members for political action. Additionally, guidance on setting up a Committee On Political Education will be provided.

4:00-6:00 PM AGEL Meeting
FACE Campaign
National Convention (Chicago)
Co-Chairs for 2008-09
Fall AGEL location

6:30-9:00 PM IFT Dinner at Illini Union served by our SEIU brothers and sisters!
(Heidi Lawson, co-pres of GEO-UIC and grad rep to the IFT Executive Council, will speak)

9:00-?? House Party!



Sunday, May 25, 2008

9:00-9:30 AM Breakfast (Union Courtyard Cafe)

9:30-11:00 AM State/Regional Caucuses (Union Courtyard Cafe)
A chance for locals related by state or region to discuss issues/goals that they share.