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December 06, 2002

Liminality (II)

Spent entirely too long living in Urbana after I graduated. I did/do know quite a few graduate students there, so this is heartening:

GEO elated by vote for union

Now that they have won union representation, graduate employees say they can turn their full attention to teaching their students.

Teaching and graduate assistants at the University of Illinois voted overwhelmingly to be represented by the Graduate Employees Organization for collective bargaining. The unofficial tally of votes Wednesday night had 1,188 voting in favor of GEO representation and 347 voting against. About 2,700 graduate employees were eligible to vote in the election.

“We're very, very happy with the results,” said GEO Co-president Rosemary Braun. “I'm incredibly proud of the history of this campaign, and so many grads giving to it even though they knew they wouldn't be around to enjoy the fruits of the campaign.”

If you're curious about the union, their About page states:

Graduate employees are vital to the University of Illinois. Graduate employees are responsible for one-third of all undergraduate teaching at the U of I, and 49% of 100-level teaching -- and these percentages grow every year. In addition to teaching so many undergraduate classes, graduate employees perform crucial tasks for faculty and carry out much of the research that helps make the U of I one of the top schools in the country. Despite working hard to provide these valuable services, graduate employees do not have a recognized voice in decisions that affect their work lives.

Or didn't, at least. They've not updated since the vote, obviously.

Their links page lists a few graduate employee unions in Canada and here in the States. Are these an issue in Europe? I like to compare the U.S. to the rest of the industrialized world sometimes. Y'know, regarding labor issues, health care, education. . . I'm wacky that way.

Posted by Aaron at December 6, 2002 04:31 PM

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