Fellow members,

Now is the time for every GEO member and every on-campus ally to join us in our fight for a fair contract. Read on to find out how you can get involved and make your voice heard!

CALL TO ACTION!

• On Friday, May 6, GEO is bargaining with the university from 10am-12pm in Campus Center 805-809. The session is open to all members; we’ll meet in the GEO office (Campus Center 917) 20 minutes beforehand and head down to the room together. We plan to bring more testimonials from rank-and-file graduate workers about the challenges of life in the Pioneer Valley over the last several years; and we hope to hear management’s response to one of our main proposals: to end mandatory fees for graduate employees. If you’re interested in speaking at the table or want to find out more info about getting involved, email bargaining.

• Immediately after our bargaining session, GEO will be holding a sit-in outside the Chancellor’s office in Whitmore to demand a fair contract. We’ll be there from 12pm-2pm (at least…). We’re not messing around, and we won’t go home until our needs are met. GEO’s bargaining team will march over to Whitmore following the bargaining session; everyone else should meet in front of Whitmore between 11:45-12:00. You do not need to attend the bargaining session to attend the sit-in. Please spread the word and encourage all GEO members and our campus allies to attend.

If you have any questions at all about the sit-in or bargaining, don’t hesitate to reach out to bargaining. UNITED WE BARGAIN; DIVIDED WE BEG!

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Other Upcoming Events

In addition to Friday’s day of action, GEO has a few other events coming up. These are posted on the calendar on our website: http://www.geouaw.org. Be sure to make a plan to join us. We’ll see you all there!

Wednesday, 5/4 from 2-5pm (today): Third day of voting for GEO officer elections in the Campus Center concourse.

Thursday, 5/5 from 10-4pm: GEO is celebrating International Workers’ Day on the North Student Union Lawn! Come meet your fellow workers, chat about bargaining, grab some food, relax, and prepare to escalate the fight for a fair contract on Friday!

Thursday, 5/5 from 5-7pm: GEO’s last general membership meeting of the semester will take place in South College E241. The Bargaining Committee will give an update on where negotiations stand and what we’re fighting for. If you’ve got questions about the process or want to find out how to get more involved—this is the meeting for you! This is also the last chance you’ll have to vote in the elections for GEO officers for next year. Results of the election will be announced at the end of the meeting.

Solidarity always,

GEO leadership