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Hundreds of grads rallied on North Campus today, continuing the fight for dignity and affordability for each and every worker. Facing indifference and intimidation from the University, grads remained united. The conditions North Campus grads face are a stark reminder of urgency of our demands. For example, grads in the School of Music Theatre and Dance (SMTD) often work tiny fractions below even a 0.25FTE appointment (less than half of a typical GSI salary). Yet, SMTD students, who tend to be Masters or DMAs, would be excluded from the Rackham 12-month funding proposal, deepening the inequity between grads in SMTD and other colleges.
As grads rallied and picketed on North Campus, the University filed an injunction against our strike. This is something grad workers knew was coming. It seems that the University would rather sue its own students than pay us a living wage. GEO President Jared Eno said, “it’s deeply disappointing to see President Ono double down on Mark Schlissel’s shameful anti-worker playbook. But I also know that U-M’s bullying won’t end this strike. The solidarity, dedication, and community that I’m seeing is more powerful than any injunction.” Energy at the North Campus rally verified this point. Grads know that we have the power, and are determined to fight for a living wage and a dignified workplace.
North Campus Grad Workers Speak
Sben Korsch, Architecture
“We are on North Campus today because grads here face particularly tough working conditions. This year, I have met so many PhDs from across this campus, yet rarely, if ever, meet others with such a bad contract as we have at Taubman College. We have no summer funding and are only guaranteed funding for 4 years! We need a living wage to make grad school here possible for everyone.”
Anna Rose Nelson, SMTD
“As a North Campus organizer who’s been working on a decade-long campaign to raise low fractions & win universal tuition waivers—issues that disproportionately affect grad workers in SMTD, STAMPS, and Taubman—I’ve learned that the university HAS the financial resources to fix these issues, but they’ve chosen to not even acknowledge the problem. Why? Does U-M not value grad workers in the fine arts?”
When We Fight, We Win! Sign Up for Picketing
Standing together, we can make this university a place where grad workers are treated with the basic dignity we deserve. Do your part and join grads and allies on the picket line every week day from 9am until 3:30pm. Sign up at
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