Hi Fellow Workers,
We have a number of important updates for you this week, starting with the bargaining session today! Read on to know more about health insurance issues, our youtube and written testimonial series, and much more.
1. Reminder- Bargaining session today!
Our second bargaining session is TODAY from 1-4pm at Campus Center Room 903. If you missed the last bargaining session, you can watch this 4-minute video to hear bargaining coordinator Danielle Bradley explain what happened, what GEO proposed, and what to expect from the administration at this upcoming session. We will start prepping for the bargaining session in the GEO office (Campus Center 917) at noon. All are welcome to join us there to prepare for the session!
‘Tis the season — as we move into back-to-school season, more than just excitement is spreading. You can’t bargain if you’re stuck in bed! Mask up, and we’ll see you soon!
2. Issues with Insurance, Late Pay and Bursar’s Bill
Many members have been having issues with extremely high bursar’s bills, delayed health insurance, and late pay on wages and summer fellowships. If you face any of these issues, continue to inform us immediately. We met with management and UHS authorities today to expedite these issues and are working to resolve them as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, you do NOT need to pay your bursar’s bill in order to enroll for health insurance. Please do not pay an inordinately high bill– the deadline for paying the bursar’s bill is after the add/drop deadline. You can write to us and the Bursar’s Office with any questions. Second, you need to be enrolled in more than five credits for your health insurance to be automatically activated. You need to register for continuing enrollment or less than five credits in order to enroll manually. If you are using the family plan, you need to enroll manually regardless of whether or not you are registered for credits.
If you have registered for five credits, or have filled out the manual enrollment form after registering for credits/Continuous Enrollment as of today, please write to us by Friday if your health insurance is not activated.
Additionally, if you write to UHS Patient Services or the Bursar’s Office regarding your problem, we highly recommend that you cc GEO (geo) in your email so that we can document your concern and can continue to follow up swiftly. We will continue talking with admin in order to address the present issues—and to continue pushing to eliminate the risk of breaks in coverage for GEO members. And we’ll provide the membership with updates as soon as we have them.
3. Launching our YouTube Testimonial Series!
The communications working group has officially launched the first (of many forthcoming) video testimonials of fellow GEO members on why they decided to join the union. In our first video, listen to Mark Murdy (he/him), a PhD student in the physics department, explain why he became a GEO member!
If you would like to take part in filming for GEO testimonials, please email hku
4. Write a Testimonial for GEO!
If you’re uncomfortable sitting behind a camera and recording a video testimonial for why you joined GEO, no worries! We have an option for folks who want to participate.
In the provided google form, please fill in whichever question you want to answer about why YOU joined the union and the various ways you have been involved. We’d love to hear from you so please share your thoughts!
You can sign up here.
5. WMALF Labor Day Picnic
The Western Mass Area Labor Federation is hosting a Labor Day Picnic and Celebration on Sunday, September 3rd, at Nonotuck Park in Easthampton from 2-5. We would like to invite you and your members to come out to come join us for a great time! The picnic is a family friendly event with food, fun and games, music, and the opportunity to meet other union siblings from across the region to celebrate recent victories and make stronger connections between the many unions in Western Massachusetts.
We are asking people to RSVP here so that we have a sense of how many will be attending.
Bring a water bottle, any outdoor games, folding chairs, blankets, canopy, or anything you will need to be comfortable in a park setting. If you play a musical instrument, bring that along as well, as an informal jam session may happen!
Access: The Pavilion where we’ll be is mostly flat and can accommodate wheelchairs. The bathrooms are wheelchair accessible and there is accessible parking approximately 15 feet to the Pavilion.
For more information or if you have questions about the event please contact Ian Rhodewalt (organizer).
Parking – $3/per vehicle
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In solidarity, GEO Leadership
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