Fellow workers,
Earlier this week we kicked off May Day with a bang! We had a great turnout for the event, with plenty of joy, solidarity, and love from our membership. It was an absolute pleasure to see so many of you there. There’s more events planned for this week and the next, so please come on out. Solidarity forever! Speaking of which…
STAND WITH CHILDCARE WORKERS AT SPRINGFIELD PARTNERS FOR COMMUNITY ACTION! SPCA is an anti-poverty non-profit organization that provides a variety of services to people in need to help them achieve economic stability. The Early Learning Center is one part of this organization. The workers in the center are unionized with UAW Local 2322, the same union GEO is a part of. The current starting rate for teachers is just $16.50 an hour, and some of the teachers have had to seek services from Springfield Partners out of economic need. The union members have been negotiating since January, and they have been met with disrespect and a lack of transparency from management and their lead counsel, Kathy Moore, at the bargaining table. They have filed several unfair labor practices charges and voted unanimously to authorize a strike with a deadline of May 8. Their demands are reasonable and would help SPCA realize their vision of combating poverty and economic injustice. Sign this petition in solidarity with our union siblings! And stay tuned for more updates, including additional solidarity asks, as we near the May 8 strike deadline.
GEO’s Abolition Committee continues to endorse Abolition Week at UMass. Drop in to one of the events on the flier below to learn more.
Today, Thursday, May 4th, from 4:30-7:30 PM the UMass Alliance for Community Transformation will hold a participatory action forum in the Bernie Dallas Room (inside Goodell Hall). A number of community organizations from the Pioneer Valley and beyond will be present to discuss their projects and campaigns. Please do not miss out!
GEO’s Bargaining Committee is getting ready to go into bargaining! At the membership meeting Monday, we presented a preliminary report on the general issues survey sent out to members in February. We also gave an overview of our major concerns for this round of negotiations. A separate email will go out with the details of the report and an outline of our priorities for our next contract. The Committee currently meets every Thursday in Campus Center Room 917 from 1-2pm, and we will continue to meet through the summer as we begin to bargain at the end of May/early June. ALL members in good standing are welcome to attend and get involved in the process. Got questions? Reach out to geo or bargaining!
Next Thursday, May 11th, from 11:30AM-12:30 PM we will hold a special stewards’ assembly to confirm our next union co-chairs, Hannah Ku and Ragini Jha. The meeting will also take place over Zoom. Because the election was uncontested, the GEO bylaws call for this meeting to dialogue with the elected co-chairs about their vision for leadership and the future of our union. At the meeting, we will also need to elect two new Steward Assembly Co-chairs, as well as steward representatives for the Steering Committee. Although only GEO stewards may vote in this meeting, it is open to all members in good standing.
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In solidarity, GEO Leadership
geouaw.org
