Posts tagged University of Michigan
‘Many of us are struggling’: why US universities are facing a wave of strikes
April 24, 2023 // Thousands of workers at universities have gone on strike in 2023 amid new union contract negotiations in demand of pay increases that align with the effect high inflation rates have had on the cost of living. The strikes are a continuation of wave of industrial action in higher education in the US last year. In late 2022, 48,000 graduate workers and post-doctoral researchers went on strike throughout the University of California system, the largest strike in US higher education history. There were 15 academic strikes in the US in 2022, the highest number of strikes in academia in at least 20 years.
Bernie Sanders offers his support to striking University of Michigan graduate instructors
April 21, 2023 // A judge, acting on behalf of the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, ruled April 18 that the union should end the strike after it violated the current agreement’s no-strike clause. The union plans to continue striking and appeal the judge’s decision, said union secretary Karthik Ganapathy. The university wants to resolve the matters at the bargaining table, said university spokesman Rick Fitzgerald. “While the university has worked diligently to ensure that the negative impact felt by students is minimized, it is in the best interest of the entire campus community, especially our undergraduate students, for GEO to stop its strike and return to the classroom,” Fitzgerald said in a statement.
Judge says UM grad workers union committed unfair labor practice; union to appeal
April 19, 2023 // The judge said the Graduate Employees’ Organization violated the no-strike clause of its current contract, which expires May 1. GEO members have been on strike since March 29. But the decision is not final. It serves as a recommendation to the full Michigan Employment Relations Commission. University spokesperson Rick Fitzgerald said the strike has left students’ exams and final grades in jeopardy. “While the university has worked diligently to ensure that the negative impact felt by students is minimized, it is in the best interest of the entire campus community, especially our undergraduate students, for GEO to stop its strike and return to the classroom,” he said.
Opinion: America is on strike. Here’s what it means
April 18, 2023 // Let the protests in France be our warning of what happens when elite indifference goes too far. French President Emmanuel Macron drove a widely unpopular pension reform bill through Parliament without a vote, raising the retirement age from 62 to 64. Discussing the controversial measure in an interview, Macron placed his hands under the table to remove the luxury watch he was wearing, further widening the chasm between himself and the working class. He bypassed the legislative body meant to represent his people. Now his people are lighting buildings on fire. If we want to avoid suffering the same fate as France, our political and financial leaders cannot behave with the same pomposity. Vulgar displays of riches spread quickly on social media. The only thing that spreads quicker is the backlash. This dangerous dichotomy combined with a larger wealth gap than at any other point in modern U.S. history seriously raises the risk of unrest.
U-M graduate student workers on strike, seeking better pay and benefits
March 30, 2023 // In addition to higher wages, the union's demands include "an affordable and accessible childcare subsidy, access to gender affirming care, an emergency fund for international students and transitional funding for survivors of sexual harassment," said GEO Contract Committee Chair Amir Fleischmann. "A strike violates GEO’s own agreement with the university," according to the release. "The current contract includes language specifying that the union agrees not to strike while the contract is in effect."
Arizona university workers demand thriving wage
January 27, 2023 // Workers at the University of Arizona (UA) are demanding a large pay raise, to the tune of $25 an hour, by 2025. The United Campus Workers of Arizona (UCW), which also represents workers at Arizona State University (ASU), is calling for people to sign their petition to university administrators to implement a “dignified wage for ALL workers.” The UCW petition clamored for the payment of “a thriving wage, not a poverty wage” for workers due to rising inflation, which led to “significant increases in housing costs, gas, and food expenses.” The petition also claimed that around 4,000 employees “are not making enough to survive in our communities” because 43% of UA workers make less than $25 an hour. Currently, the UA petition has gathered 579 signatures out of its goal of 800 signatures.
IU faculty votes to support grad students unionizing
June 2, 2022 // Grad students are seeking fee changes, improved stipends and union recognition.
Spurred on by SWC-UAW contract, student workers nationwide pursue greater workplace protections
February 26, 2022 // The union's victories have spurred student-worker unions across the nation to fight for similar goals