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The Clog recently received an e-mail stemming from a Berkeley Ethnic Studies GSI named Irene Nexica, who is also a representative for United Auto Workers–the union for GSIs, tutors and readers. In the e-mail she explains:
UAW Local 2865, the union representing over 12,000 Graduate Student Instructors, and undergraduate/graduate Graders and Tutors at the University of California, has been negotiating for a new agreement with UC since March. The current contract expires this Sunday – September 30.
Apparently, “university administrators have committed numerous Unfair Labor Practices that have become a major barrier to reaching agreement on a fair contract,” which now leads to the threat of a UC-wide GSI strike. The e-mail continues with a list of what you can do to give a swift kick to the stalled negotiations, including calling Berkeley officials and writing all over school property with some suggested chalking slogans. We’ve already spied some of these chalkings on the planter benches of Lower Sproul Plaza:
SUPPORT YOUR GSI
CHANCELLOR Birgeneau: OBEY THE LAW
UC: OBEY THE LAW!
BARGAIN FAIRLY WITH GSIsSUPPORT JUSTICE FOR GSIs, GRADERS AND TUTORS!
FAIR CONTRACT FOR MY TA NOW
Unfortunately, the scrawled slogans and other forms of word-of-mouth information are all the details about the strike that’s available right now. The official union website hasn’t had a bargaining update since the 27th, and the countdown to contract expiration is up. Still, the question of whether or not you’ll have to wake up for that 8 a.m. section has yet to be answered.
Fortunately, the e-mail also gives us some semi-useful tips on what to do if there is, in fact, a strike:
If there’s a strike, should students go to class?
Yes, go to lecture, go to section, talk to your classmates and encourage them to call the Chancellor as well. If the University’s continuing Unfair Labor Practices force the Union to strike, we encourage you to go on campus and seek the education you have paid for and deserve.
The university likes to take its sweet time, and the GSIs are fighting to pay rent–but yes, we undergrads are still paying tuition. We do support the underpaid GSIs and their desire to afford wholesome meals. However, it would have been nice if they were a little more certain about the “classes may be canceled” issue or if they actually notified all students. Right now, the strike is just looking like talk, and half of the student body still has no idea that its GSIs may be canceling class this week.
To both the university and the union: Thanks for letting us know!
Here’s to better communication and speedy negotiations.
UAW Local 2865 [Website]
GSI Strike [UCB LJ Community]
Earlier: Workers’ Union Files Charges; GSIs May Strike [Daily Cal]
Comments:
Oct 1, 2007 at 2:59 pm
From the website:
“As of 10 A.M. on 10/1/07 the UAW and UC have reached a tentative agreement for a ground-breaking new 4th contract for Academic Student Employees!”
Shoot, there’s class tomorrow…
Oct 1, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Still no email from the union about it, though – you’d think they’d want to a) let us know there’s no strike and b) take the opportunity to show off their overwrought prose style in self-congratulations.
Oct 1, 2007 at 6:11 pm
What? Out of state GSI’s paid more than in-state GSI’s? As a former out-of-state GSI (and current in-state GSI), I have never heard of such a demand or complaint.
Maybe you’re talking about fee remissions?
Oct 1, 2007 at 11:43 am
Underpaid? Give me a break. Or at least give me evidence. From your shoddy articles all I could gather was that out-of-state GSI’s want to be paid more than in-state ones. Is that a fair labor practice?