GEU Bargaining Updates

Find out what's going on in bargaining between your GEU colleagues and the Michigan State University administration. Here you can find out 1) when the next bargaining session is, 2) what we're actively bargaining for, and 3) ways you can get involved.

We want you to have access to bargaining needs and updates at your leisure and without accosting your email inbox more than necessary. Follow us to get updates sent to your inbox. You, as a member, are welcome to come to a bargaining session at any time or to become more involved. Email geu at msu dot edu with questions, or visit us at geuatmsu.org!

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Beginning of economic issue bargaining

Yesterday our awesome bargaining team presented our initial economic bargaining platform. It included  a wage increase, better subsidization of dependent healthcare, a full tuition waiver for the duration of our degree program, subsidized childcare, and fully subsidized bus passes.

Then we saw MSUs platform...if you look on Twitter, or browse the feed at the right of this blog, you'll see the live tweets from the meeting.

A few highlights (or should we say lowlights) from MSUs platform:

- removing all contributions to dependent healthcare. We would assume 100% of those costs.
- putting predicted significant healthcare rises incurred during the duration of the contract on us.
- continuing the 9 credits per semester (5 in summer) tuition waiver that we currently have until we complete our comprehensives, then reducing it to 3 (1 in summer)
- change our compensation from a 2 tiered system to one based on merit. A pool would be developed to give merit based raises each fall, and TAs only working in the spring would have no opportunity to accrue merit raises. Additionally, who would be evaluating us? 
- they have not mentioned wage increases. 

It's true that in bargaining both parties start divided and work toward a central, amenable contract. However, everyone was surprised by just how little MSUs initial platform provided. 

The next bargaining session is March 27th. Do you want more from MSU? Email us if you would like to attend a bargaining session and stand up for THIS.

#GEUisU
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3 comments:

  1. UnknownMarch 20, 2015 at 6:19 AM

    Gawwwd! Does MSU actively want to make it impossible for graduate assistants to finish their programs in a timely manner without significant debt all the while being able to provide a humanly decent life for themselves and their family?

    ReplyDelete
  2. UnknownMarch 20, 2015 at 6:20 AM

    Also, will there be any bargaining on April 10? I might be in the area on that day, would love to show my support for GEU in person if I could.

    ReplyDelete
  3. UnknownMarch 23, 2015 at 8:11 AM

    Dan, April 6th and April 13th. Nothing on the 10th. Sorry! But we'd love to say hi and there is a GMM on April 10th (location TBA)! Swing by!

    ReplyDelete

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