January 22 Bargaining Blog

Submitted by Jason Leto on January 26, 2010 - 12:36pm

The University is at it again. They are all about delay, delay, delay. And we see it being played out right now. At the last Bargaining Session, the GEO demanded that the University meet with us at least one more time in January. The University’s negotiator, Marilyn LeBlailks said they wanted to meet again after the Board of Trustees meeting. The BoT meeting was yesterday. And now the University is saying the earliest they can meet with the GEO is 2 February 2010. They claim that they are having a problem scheduling a time when all of their Bargaining Team members can attend. I don’t give a rat’s ass if their entire time cannot meet. For the last three or four months the full GEO Bargaining Team has not been able to make the times that the University has set for Bargaining. They didn’t seem to care that on some days, only ONE of our team members could make it to the Bargaining Session. Why should be care if their entire team cannot make it to a Bargaining Session?

I find this excuse to be ridiculous and weak. They have known since 8 January that the GEO wanted to meet a second time in January, and they noted that they wanted to do so after the BoT meeting. They have had nearly three weeks to figure this out, and they couldn’t find one four-hour block of time to meet with us? I would say they are being a one-trick-pony again: delay, delay, delay. Maybe they think if they drag this nonsense out long enough the GEO will give up. They are DEAD WRONG! The GEO wants a contract that is fair to our members. We want decent healthcare, a living wage, an end to unfair fees like the Tuition Differential, and we want respect!

We need our members to step up and put pressure on the University to meet with the GEO Bargaining Team in a timely manner and we need members to start putting the pressure on the University to give us a fair contract! Those of you who attended the BoT Meeting saw the first step in the pressure that is being built. We need ALL of our members to continue coming to rallys, signing petitions and most importantly to sign your membership card.

Sarita