On Wednesday, we had our 11th bargaining session. While less was passed across the table than normal, our bargaining chair Hanna gave a powerful argument to why RAs need economic compensation and more free time. RAs in attendance supported our message by sharing their own experiences and opinions in the chat. We also re-passed two articles. We rephrased our language in Discipline and Dismissal to make it more clear. For Leaves and Holidays, we lowered the number of personal days per semester to 5, but are now asking for this for all assistants instead of just RAs since UIC is so unwilling to give RAs and TAs/GAs different benefits.
As long as RAs are willing to fight for more, the Bargaining Committee will hold the line and keep advocating. Join us at the next session in early January. If you have ideas about proposals or strategy, send us an email or consider joining the Organizing Committee. For access to a spreadsheet containing the most recent passes from each side and our drafting docs, email egcairncross@gmail.com. If you would like to help out with rationales or give a testimony to you experience, email us at ra-bargaining-comm@uicgeo.org.
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