Click here for a PDF Version of this Bulletin!
Hundreds of grad workers and their allies rallied in the rain this morning ahead of the court hearing. Clad in purple GEO ponchos, workers sheltered under Hatcher Library before marching to the courthouse. Grads heard speakers from the Payments for Placements campaign demanding a $20/hr minimum wage for the unpaid 900 hour internships required of Masters of Social Work students. Grad workers flooded through Nickels Arcade and onto the streets as they headed to the courthouse.
In a major win for striking grad workers, the judge refused to grant U-M’s request for a temporary restraining order. In a court room packed with grad workers, attendees heard the University’s legal counsel – the firm Butzel Long, notorious for its defence of the Flint water crisis – argue that grad workers are absolutely essential to U-M. We couldn’t agree more – and that’s why we deserve a living wage and a dignified workplace. Judge Kuhnke agreed with GEO that the temporary restraining order was not justified. This result bolsters grads’ argument that the contract should be settled at the negotiating table, not in the courtroom. A full evidentiary hearing has been scheduled for Monday evening. Negotiations will continue Wed, Thurs, & Fri.
Grad Workers & Allies Speak
Yousef Rabhi, Former Michigan House Democratic Floor Leader
“What you are doing today is striking a line in the sand to say: workers aren’t going to take shit anymore! … You’re fighting for every working person in this state and in this country today, by showing you will not yield. That is how we will build a better future for working class people in this country.”
Prayag, Statistics
“UM’s injunction was a disingenuous attempt to bring the judicial system in to undermine our leverage at the bargaining table. While Judge Kuhnke’s ruling against UM is a welcome morale boost to all of us grad workers, we can’t count on the courts to save us. I’m gearing up for another busy week of collective struggle. We’ve already made it further than we did in the 2020 strike!”
Geo Mass Meeting Set for Wednesday Evening
Wednesday evening, GEO members will meet for our first General Membership Meeting of the strike. Coming a day after the denial of U-M’s temporary restraining order, the mass meeting will be a key place to discuss strategy and next steps. The GMM will be from 7-9, in-person & on Zoom. RSVP:
Comments are closed