Dear GEO members,

Yesterday we met with the University’s labor relations team for our third bargaining session. We passed new articles focused on housing subsidies, hybrid/remote work accommodations, and increasing the yearly contributions the University makes to our Health and Welfare Trust. We once again made our vision clear: the housing shortage—and the criminally inflated cost of what little housing is available—is nothing short of a crisis for our members.

These are big problems; they demand big solutions. And the University has expanded and prospered throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. They’re in a perfect position to implement bold, systemic changes like the ones we’re proposing at the bargaining table. But the tone of our discussions seems to suggest that management is uncomfortable with recognizing the dire situation we find ourselves in. They don’t believe it’s a crisis, or if they do, they don’t particularly care to address it.

We eagerly await Management’s written counters. And we look forward to showing them the power of grad worker solidarity in the coming months as bargaining heats up!

Want to get involved in bargaining? Write to the Bargaining Committee at bargaining. Our meetings are open to all GEO members.

In Solidarity,

The GEO Bargaining Committee