Bargaining Updates

1/29/26 Bargaining Update

GEO and the university returned to the table on Thursday, January 29 for our 19th session. The university passed back: Though we were unable to get hourly graduate workers and fellows added to the bargaining unit at the table, this does not by any means mean we don’t intend to fight to get them added.…
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12/5/2025 – Wages update!

We are not paid enough to do our work. You know it. We know it. We feel it in our anxiety when our monthly utility bills loom. We feel it in our perpetual stress managing rent and groceries alongside research and instruction. We feel it trying to take care of our kids, our parents, and…
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10/21/2025 Bargaining Update

Bargaining resumed Tuesday, October 21st. GEO passed proposals for No Strike/No Lockout and Recognition. The No Strike/No Lockout clause is a legally required section which prevents workers from striking–but as our agreement has expired, passing this proposal does not stop GEO from going on strike during bargaining. With the Recognition proposal, we are fighting to…
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9/24/2025 Bargaining Update

9/12 In this session, we passed Health and Safety (with provisions for providing respirators, hand sanitizer, and air filters), Additional Employment (with provisions for grad workers to use materials created by them for outside employment), Training (with added language about trainings on dealing with federal law enforcement), and Appointment Terms (with several changes including language…
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Contract Bargaining Session 5

On Friday July 11th, GEO held our fifth bargaining session with the university. We passed over two proposals: one was an edit on XXIII. Electronic Availability, the other a new proposal on Children and Families that demands longer parental leave, a childcare stipend, accommodations for workers who are parents, and an improved bereavement policy. Though…
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Contract Bargaining Session 4

On June 16th, we had our fourth bargaining session with the university. In this session, we passed over XVIII Access to Personnel File, IX Additional Employment, and XVI Dues Deduction. We received a counter on XXIII Electronic Availability of the Agreement, a counter on XVII Work Rules, and VI Training. Additionally, the university withdrew X…
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RA Bargaining Session 11 – December 11, 2024

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…
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RA Bargaining Session 10 – November 26, 2024

On Tuesday, we had a short bargaining session. GEO passed Article XXI. Discipline and Dismissal once again, standing firm on our position that GEO should be able to represent RAs in academic discipline as well. Otherwise, we are concerned that an RA whose advisor and supervisor are the same person could pursue academic discipline in…
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RA Bargaining Session 9 – November 22, 2024

On Friday, GEO started off the session by passing Articles IX (Union Rights), XXI (Discipline and Dismissal), and VIII (Hours of Work) yet again. For Union Rights, we held the line in demanding UIC provide us with office locations for all graduate assistants. Without knowing where our coworkers even are, we are severely hindered in…
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RA Bargaining Session 8 – November 6, 2024

Our last bargaining session started in caucus. Together we reviewed our proposals on union rights and hours. The former includes a new provision protecting the union’s right to post notices in the Office of International Services, and the latter would require supervisors give assistance notice for working weekends, longer than 8 hours in a day.…
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