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In a huge culmination of the Week of Grad Labor Visibility, hundreds of grad workers and dozens of allies turned out for open bargaining and called for U-M to seriously engage with grad workers’ needs. Grads voted unanimously to re- pass our existing proposals essentially unchanged given HR’s admission that their counterproposals last week were “just a first pass.” HR might not be serious about their proposals, but we’re serious about ours!
“The people in power have a buffet, but they keep trying to give us breadcrumbs.”
– Kate, Astronomy
HR asserted without evidence that paying grad workers a living wage is “infeasible.” (U-M makes $400M in annual profits and has $9B in unrestricted reserves; bit.ly/Bunsis.) HR denied that their proposal was an effective wage cut, but admitted that they had not considered how grad workers would make ends meet with 2% raises. Presented with data showing that U-M is in the top third of peer institutions in wealth but the bottom third in grad pay, HR had no response. Given ongoing pressure, in the afternoon HR came back with another compensation proposal: 3%, 2.5%, and 2% raise in each year of the contract (lower for Dearborn and Flint). This is still far below inflation and remains an effective pay cut.
Arguing against GEO’s proposal for a no-questions-asked transitional funding program for grads trapped in abusive situations, HR insisted that U-M’s system for addressing harassment and discrimination had been fixed. Maren Spolum, doctoral student in the School of Public Health, gave a powerful testimony about years of widespread abuse, leadership inaction, and failed reforms.
Allies Show Mass Action Wins
GEO members heard from a panel of fellow U-M workers who faced similar tactics from the boss: stonewalling, running out the clock with unserious proposals (2%?!), and feigning movement with insubstantial changes. Yet workers won better contracts when union members took mass collective action, up to and including a strike. AndyT (LEO) said arguments alone won’t get us the goods, “It’s really about numbers of people that move the University.” Ted McTaggart (UMPNC) said the nurses only got a serious offer from HR after 96% of them voted to strike. Meredith Kahn (LEO-GLAM) laid out how GLAM got strike- ready: by talking to every single person in the GLAM bargaining unit, multiple times.
“Sadly, logic and morality don’t win good contracts. Only solidarity and direct action by workers does the job!”
– Bob King, former UAW President & current LEO member
Upcoming Actions
- Pack the Regents Meeting on Feb 16 (3:30-6, Ruthven building; bit.ly/RegentsMeeting). We need real counters!
- General Membership Meeting on Feb 21 (bit.ly/GEOEvents) on how we’re going to escalate and win. Bring your colleagues: this isn’t one to miss!
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