On Friday, grads braved pouring rain to hold lively pickets at the CCRB construction site and at Rackham’s graduate commencement. Many of the picketing workers are graduating themselves, and took the chance to reflect. “It’s so beautiful to be able to gather and celebrate our students, while at the same time fighting to leave this institution a better place for those who come after us,” said Michael, a Math PhD candidate. “I want UM to be a place where GSIs can give their students the attention they deserve and not be constantly worried about how to make ends meet. This contract will take us closer to making that a reality.”
Grad workers met HR for bargaining today, but the session was cut short as HR failed to prepare enough counters to fill the full length of the session. HR passed back a counter on harassment protections, explaining that regressive mandatory reporting requirements remain a sticking point for them. They said the requirements – which run counter to best practices determined by research done by U-M's own faculty – were a matter of 'comfort' for them. The 'comfort' of workers dealing with harassment did not seem to concern them. Grads passed back a package of workload proposals, including parking passes, class size, combined appointments, and outside employment. The session then ended an hour early, with HR having nothing else to pass across.
Striking grad workers celebrated an incredible week of victories with a bash – hosting a party outside the Ruthven administration building and occupying the building itself for much of the day. It was an incredible scene: students and workers transformed the usually sterile plaza next to the Central Campus Transit Centre into a summer carnival, with a grill, dancing, a kiddie pool, and a visit from an inflatable 'fat cat'. Grads and allies marched from the Diag to the Ruthven, which contains the offices of the President and the Provost. These administrators, making $975,000 and $573,917 respectively, put our own 'fat cat' to shame.
On Day 15 of our strike, the energy and enthusiasm of grad workers shows no signs of letting up. Pickets once again marched and chanted across central campus and Thursday marked the strike’s first trans rage picket. Trans and queer workers came together to, in the words of one grad, “scream at the universe, to show the university we mean business, and make trans community.” Grads marched and rollerbladed in front of Angell hall, waving flags and chanting “fuck you system, fuck your hate, we are not up for debate” and “we’re here, we’re queer, we’re fabulous don’t fuck with us.”
Click here for a PDF version of this bulletin Wednesday was another joyful day of picketing […]