State News covers Bargaining BBQ

Posted on April 6, 2011 by GEU

See the State News article about our April 1st Bargaining BBQ outside the Nisbet building. The article does a nice job of covering the issues that remain unresolved at the negotiating table — stipends, tuition waivers, and health care. It also accurately reports that about 20 GEU members came out to show their support, but the article failed to mention that we also had half a dozen members of our bargaining team on hand (see the great pic of Jochen!) as well as 20-30 supporters from other unions on campus.

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April 4th Week of Action – Participation Opportunities

Posted on April 1, 2011 by GEU

The week of April 4th is being organized as a National Week of Action for all working class people and those who care about the attacks on labor. We have our challenges to face here on campus as we work to settle a new contract with the University.

Here are some opportunities to get involved:

  • April 4th, Rally at the Capitol in Downtown Lansing, 6:00pm (with refreshments to follow in the Michigan AFL-CIO building). April 4th is also the anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., which will make this event especially poignant.
  • April 5th, National Teach In on campus, Erickson Hall Kiva. Cornel West and Frances Fox Piven will be broadcast from 2:00 to 3:30 on Tuesday, with an MSU panel discussion to follow from 3:30 to 5:00.
  • April 6th, GEU Stewards Council meeting at 6:00pm in the GEU Office on Grand River Ave (2nd floor above The Lodges).
  • Find more events here.
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Bargaining BBQ – No Foolin’

Posted on April 1, 2011 by GEU

Come support the GEU Bargaining Team at the Nisbet building (ground zero of negotiations), on the corner of Harrison & Crescent in southwest campus. We’ll be grilling hot dogs and veggie dogs, so enjoy a free meal and lend your support as the final few issues — stipends and tuition waivers — are debated. (Parking is available and we’ll have quarters for meters, if needed.)

WHAT: Bargaining BBQ
WHEN: Friday, April 1, 11:00 – 1:00

The Bargaining Team can’t win this new contract alone! Come out, show your support, and do you part.

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GEU T-Shirt Design Competition

Posted on March 31, 2011 by GEU

Are you a budding Picasso?

Would you like to win $50 worth of books?

Do you want to see thousands of people wearing YOUR design?

Enter the GEU T-Shirt Design Competition!

Click on the link below to see how your design could be the GEU’s logo for the next three years!

T-shirt Flyer

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Executive Board Nominations Being Accepted

Posted on March 29, 2011 by GEU

Nominations for 2011-12 Executive Board are now being solicited. The nomination period will remain open until April 19th, our next GMM. Any member in good standing is eligible to run for elected office. See the GEU 2011-12 Elections page for more details. http://geuatmsu.org/2011-12-executive-board-elections/

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March GMM Recap

Posted on March 27, 2011 by GEU

The subject of this GMM had one topic: BARGAINING.

Our Bargaining Team has been working away to get us the best contract they can. They reported back to us about how things are at the table, what the process has been like, and what they think are achievable options. You will receive a detailed email about the universities most current economic offer on March 28th.

Join us for our next GMM!

WHERE: Anthony Hall 1279
WHEN: Tuesday April 19th at 6pm (dinner at 5.45)

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Malcolm MacDuff (He Knows His Stuff)

Posted on March 17, 2011 by GEU

Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days Of Summer (2 letters)

March 17 2011

Dear Malcolm,

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!  I hope you get a chance to enjoy some Guinness today and celebrate your Irish heritage.  I was wondering if you could tell me when my department has to inform me if I have a job this summer. I applied months ago and have still not heard anything.

Éirinn go Brách,

Anxious in Anthro

———————————

March 17 2011

Dearest Malcolm,

Top o’ the mornin’ to ya, I am sure you are out supping a pint of the black stuff right now but when you get a chance could you let me know when my department has to inform if I have a job for the summer and the fall.  My department chair has said that jobs are scarce this summer and I really need to start making other plans in case the teaching gig doesn’t materialize.

Sláinte,

Worried in WRAC

———————————

Dear Anxious and Worried,

Thank you for your letters and best wishes.  I should point out however that I am actually Scottish and not Irish. In fact I come from a long line of MacDuffs and can trace my heritage back to Wee Willie MacDuff who organized the first Union of crofters on the Isle of Skye, but that’s a different story.

Ahhhhhhh summer, Bugaloo shrimp and pogo sticks!  Warmer days are around the corner and it is only natural that your thoughts should turn to summer teaching.  We mentioned this in our grievance update recently http://geuatmsu.org/2011/03/februarymarch-grievance-committee-update/ but just to reiterate: the department to which you applied has to inform you if you have a job or not by March 31 for summer teaching and by April 22 for teaching in the fall.  If they fail to inform you then contact us immediately—they will be in violation of the contract and we can file a grievance, and possibly get you monetary compensation.  Check out Article 11 Section iii of the GEU contract for more information on this http://www.hr.msu.edu/documents/contracts/GEU_2008-2011.pdf.

As a quick reminder, if you were teaching in the fall of 2010 and the spring of 2011 then your healthcare coverage automatically continues until August 14 2011.  If you were teaching in the spring of 2011 only Continue reading →

Posted in Advice Column, Common TA Grievances, Malcolm MacDuff (he knows his stuff) | Leave a comment

Protests in Lansing

Posted on March 17, 2011 by GEU

The GEU played an integral role in getting thousands of peaceful protesters to the Capitol in Lansing on Wednesday to protest Governor Snyder’s cuts on higher education and his attack on collective bargaining.  The GEU E-Board, stewards, and many many members were there rallying along with numerous other Unions and concerned citizens.

This is just the start – keep checking our website (this page and facebook/twitter), talk with your department steward, and come to our upcoming events to see what YOU can do to help fight Snyder’s attacks on education and democracy – attacks that directly affect TAs at MSU.

Below is a video featuring 2009-2010 GEU President Elizabeth Pellerito talking at the rally about how the current situation affects TAs.  Elizabeth’s speech starts around the 33 minute mark.

http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/13361634

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Bargaining Update #8

Posted on March 17, 2011 by GEU

The GEU and Administration bargaining teams have met twice since the last report and have all but finished non-economics. Last Friday the parties agreed to language on dues collection, workload and job security. Yesterday, time was spent discussing parking, us asking for expanded parking, the University wanting to strike it from the contract. (This will sound familiar if you were around three years ago.) Our team has heard from the membership loud and clear on the parking issue and will maintain our position strongly. The next bargaining session is scheduled for Friday, March 18. Health, dental and vision insurance will be the topic for this four hour session.

Please attend the GMM next Wednesday in 11 Olds Hall at 6PM to get the full details and discuss next steps.

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Come Protest Threats to Labor and Democracy

Posted on March 15, 2011 by GEU

Rally at Capitol #1 (Tuesday, March 15): 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. with Michigan League for Human Services…stand up for Michigan’s poor, middle class, and elderly.

Rally at Capitol #2 (Wednesday, March 16):  Come join local labor leaders to protest anti-worker legislation (over 40 pieces), including managerial power grabs and cuts to education.

The following transportation will be provided for the Wednesday rally by AFT-Michigan:

Pickups from MSU: Parking lot between Holmes Hall/McDonel Hall; North Case Parking lot; The Union (Abbott Road entrance); Lot 65 between Rather Hall and Butterfield Hall

Buses will do pick-ups each hour on the half-hour, @:  11:30am,  12:30pm,  1:30pm, 2:30pm, 3:30pm, 4:30pm, 5:30pm

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