Update from Bargaining session 3/27

A quick and dirty update from our bargaining session on Friday.

1) We came with a show of force. Over 20 bargaining members showed up to show their upset about MSU's bargaining platform. This effort was much appreciated by the bargaining team, and definitely gave MSU something to consider! Can you come out to our next bargaining session on April 1st? Members were grading, dissertating, and doing other TA related things while showing support.

2) There was a lot of time spent hashing out anti-discrimination language. We're not sure why MSU is so reluctant to incorporate additional language. The only argument they presented to us was "because it is long, if someone doesn't see their particular discrimination on the list they will feel left out." Our argument to that was that if we provide a comprehensive anti-discrimination list in our contract, it will be capacious enough to support any member should they feel discriminated against. They are bringing in the 'big gun' from the office of inclusion to explain to us their concerns.

3) There was a lot of time spent on our mandatory reporting MOU. We don't want to close down the line of communication between us and our students. If they open up to us about sexual violence, we are required to report it, even if they aren't ready to do so themselves. There is a bunch of literature that says this kind of thing is terrible for victims. And there is evidence that mandatory reporting opens up MSU for additional risks in terms of liability. And our friends at UofM managed to remove mandatory reporting for TAs. There are so many negatives on this issue, and it was clear that the administration had no idea what the mandatory reporting requirements were, saying that TAs were federally mandated to report.
a) this is bad for survivors. MSU has a bad track record for supporting survivors. This would be a step forward for them.
b) this is bad for us. When we held a town hall on the issue, the various departments had different marching orders as to when we needed to report and when it was outside the scope of our jobs. And some say that if our friends, other TAs, or undergrads we don't teach who work in our labs, were to speak out, we would be required to report their experiences.
c) The enforcing agency, the MSU police, at that same town hall, provided contradictory information. They also assured us that all that would happen if a report was made would be an email to the victim. Regardless of the problems associated with possibly sharing an email or password with the person perpetrating the violence, some have come forward saying the MSU police have reached out to the accused and asked for 'their side of the story.'

Again, MSU is bringing in someone from the office of inclusion because they didn't do their research on the issue.

In positive news, we settled on language regarding compensation during jury duty and are keeping our bulletin boards!

The next bargaining meeting is April 1st, 10-3p.m. If you have questions about the process or want to come as a bargaining team member or observer (here's looking at you faculty and undergrads), let us know!

In Solidarity.