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Grad workers ended the week on a high note, with dancing, good food, camaraderie, and sunshine. Dozens of grads gathered outside of Palmer Commons as bargaining was taking place. Union chants rung out in three languages (English, Spanish, and French) as workers demonstrated in support of a living wage and dignified working conditions. Workers fired up a grill, screen-printed strike bandanas, and hung banners outside the building. It was a great way to cap off a successful second week of the strike. Grads were seemingly everywhere this week, with picket lines marching on the Diag, North Campus, and even at U-M’s outpost in Detroit.
At the table on Friday, HR once again failed to move on salary. Instead, they continued to offer grads a ‘raise’ below the rate of inflation and lower than Provost McCauley and President Ono. Though HR made minor movement on issues like parental leave and protections for international workers, their proposals still remain far from what would be needed to address the cost of living crisis and issues of workplace dignity and safety. According to Bailey, a PhD candidate in Art History, “these low-ball offers make it seem like HR isn’t even trying to get us back in the classrooms. We need to show them we’re serious about our demands if we want to get serious offers from them.”
Dispatches From the Lines
Matias, Romance Languages
“At this picket line, we had a lot of fun! It had a festive vibe. The University can threaten to take away our wages, which for many of us is critical because we have families to feed: my wife and daughter depend on my wage back home. They can take my wage but they can’t take the joy of getting together with my compañeres, dancing, cooking, & feeling the joy of the strike. Let’s keep pushing & dancing until we get what we deserve!”
Ted, Nurses’ Union
“The picket line today had an energetic and invigorating spirit. UMPNC members stand in solidarity with GEO and hope for victory in the court house on Monday.”
Fight the Injunction: Hearing Monday Morning
On Monday April 10th GEO members will have their day in court. Come fight the University’s attempt to use the courts to circumvent the bargaining process. The hearing begins at 10:00am at the Washtenaw County Circuit Court in downtown Ann Arbor. Sign up for picket shifts to stay up to date! bit.ly/GEOPicketShift
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