Some 250 GEO members and supporters from other unions and the community hit the picket line outside the UI Assembly Hall this morning. The action began the second day of mediation, overseen by a federal mediator, between the Graduate Employees' Organization, IFT/AFT Local 6300, which has been working without a contract since August, and the University.

Negotiations on a new contract began in April 2006, but were largely stalled by the University's refusal to engage in substantive negotiations until recently. After the University put a clearly insufficient contract offer on the table, the bargaining ground forward briefly before resort to the federal mediator was agreed to by the GEO and the University. The University's last offer represents an effective pay cut for the teaching and graduate assistants covered under the contract and a paltry, token improvement in health care funding, as well as a smaller wage increase than the University has already granted to research assistants, who are not covered by the contract. It also had no provision for retroactive pay, which is typically granted even after the University's unsuccessful stalling tactics have played out in bargaining with other campus unions.

Members of the GEO characterize the University's attitude toward negotiations as "disrespectful," regressive," and "totally unacceptable." At a general membership meeting last week, the GEO membership unanimously voted to authorize the filing of intent to strike paperwork with the state labor board. After a 15 day period, this paperwork will allow the GEO to hold a vote to authorize the beginning of job actions.

Although the hour was early and the wind chill was below zero, the marching, chanting, and drumming GEO members made it clear that neither the weather nor management's clumsy stalling tactics would intimidate the union from taking the action needed to win a fair and progressive contract. The GEO is ready to respond, even as early as later today, to additional provocations by the University -- or to prepare to hold a vote on an acceptable contract offer.

More info: http://www.shout.net/~geo/