Hello fellow workers!
We have a lot of important updates for you, including our membership meeting, stewards meeting, and various caucuses and committee updates. We also have exciting news about our Friday GEO Rally. Read on to learn more! You can also find some of these updates in this video summary by our co-chair Hannah Ku.
FIRST GENERAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING TOMORROW
As a reminder, we are having our FIRST general membership meeting on September 19th, 5-7pm in Herter Hall 601. We will be voting on the next steps in our bargaining process, so please be there! We will be providing food and drinks. In GEO, the membership is the highest authority, so this is where all our most important decisions are made. It’s also a great place to get updates about what’s going on in collective bargaining and in other GEO spaces. We hope to see everyone there!
STEWARDS ASSEMBLY DATE + SOCIAL
On September 25th, we will be having our FIRST steward’s assembly from 4-6pm in Campus Center 903. Meet stewards from different departments and learn what to expect in the upcoming year as a steward for your department! All members are very welcome to attend but only stewards can vote.
Any questions or specific items you would want to discuss? Email steward co-chairs johnny@geouaw.org and wtang@geouaw.org
Zoom Meeting ID – 936 8864 3785
Can’t make the meeting? Come to our stewards’ social on September 21st at the Hangar 7pm. All members are welcome!
LATE PAY ON WAGES AND FELLOWSHIPS
Your first paycheck should have come on September 15 (Friday). If you did not receive pay for fellowships or assistantships on time, please write to us at geo@umass.edu along with the Bursar’s office. If you are facing high Bursar bills please write to the Bursar’s office and cc geo@umass.edu on any communications.
GEO RALLY UPDATE
On September 15th, 2023, over 120 rank and file GEO members marched from the Student Union to the Whitmore Administrative Building demanding a contract that addresses the rising cost of living and housing crisis in the Pioneer Valley. We demanded to meet with the Chancellor to address our concerns. Chancellor Reyes was not “available” to meet us or take a message at the time. Graduate workers had an impromptu sit-in outside Chancellor Reyes’ office demanding he meet with graduate workers to discuss a fair contract. Check out the rally on this video.
GEO WRITTEN TESTIMONIALS
If you’re uncomfortable sitting behind a camera and recording a video testimonial for why you joined GEO, no worries! We have an alternative 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!
Please fill out the form here!
BARGAINING
Mark your calendar for GEO’s next bargaining session with admin on Monday, September 25th, 1pm-3pm. If you want to support bargaining efforts in the meantime, you can:
- Contact bargaining@geouaw.org if you want to get involved (there are many things to do, so tell us if you have any specific interests!)
- Come to an open bargaining committee meeting (Thursdays 9am-11am via Zoom)
ALSO management told us they want to have members log in via zoom rather than be in person for our following bargaining sessions because of “fire codes.” Apparently they can’t find a larger room on campus! We have told them that zoom is NOT an option and all our members deserve to participate equally in bargaining. We will keep you posted on the bargaining location!
ABOLITION COMMITTEE
Abolition committee plans to meet on Wednesdays from 3-4:30pm. If you have any questions and want to get more involved, please email tljames@umass.edu
ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
Organizing committee meets every Monday from 4-5:30pm in Campus Center 915 and over Zoom. Want to get more involved? Follow us on slack to get the link or email tmorrison@geouaw.org
INTERNATIONAL CAUCUS
The International Caucus is meeting on September 27 at 4:30 pm, location TBD. Food and drinks to be provided! Please contact slawendy@umass.edu and smritidhital@umass.edu for more information.
____________________________________________________________________________
If you want to get involved, want more information or simply want to talk to us, you can drop by GEO office at 917 Campus Center Monday through Thursday, 9 AM-5PM.
Please email geo@umass.edu if there is anything you’d like to include in our weekly newsletters! Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube!
