Graduate Employee Organization (GEO-UAW)

11/13/2019

TODAY!!!! Up With Workers breakfast. FREE bagels, pastries, coffee, orange juice and maybe more. This morning from 9:30-11:00 in room 917 on the 9th floor of the Campus Center. At today's breakfast, some GEO staff are going to be talking about various regional solidarity-building activities we have been engaged in. If you want to share your own regional networks or eavesdrop/participate in this informal conversation, do come. If not, come for coffee and breakfast as usual. Come On Down!!!!

11/12/2019

VOTING BEGINS THIS WEEK!!!! Who do you want to fight for YOUR contract in Bargaining 2020? Click the link and meet the Candidates for Bargaining Committee: https://www.geouaw.org/bargaining-committee-elections-meet…/

11/07/2019

TODAY the last day of ENGINEERING WEEK!!!! GRAB SOME FREE COFFEE, ORANGE JUICE, BAGELS & SNACKS. This afternoon.... 1:00 P.M. till 3:00 P.M. at the ELab ll Lounge.

11/06/2019

THIS MORNING 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. UP WITH WORKERS WEDNESDAY Morning Breakfast. Tell us what's going on in your department. Find out what's going on with your union. Get FREE COFFEE, BAGELS, PASTRY, BREAKFAST etc. and stay for casual shop-talk if you can. CAMPUS CENTER 9th Floor ROOM 917.

11/05/2019

Today we sent off a $1000 donation to GM workers in Flint, Michigan, via United Way, a non-profit collecting towards for those workers. Remember, GM folks are still getting "strike wages" this week even though the strike is over and workers have accepted a new contract - so every drop counts. Recent Membership Meetings and Stewards' Assemblies have seen several donations, and some are taking a while due to time spent in finding out appropriate groups to donate to.
In light of this, here is a guide to making this process go faster from the GEO office to Local 2322 and on to the actual recipients.

11/05/2019

Jewish statement against Chancellor Subbaswamy's characterization of BDS and pro-Palestinian speech as anti-semitic

If you tried to sign this earlier and found that all the fields for you to fill out didn't seem right, they have since been corrected!

Fellow Jewish folks at UMass, please read and cosign this letter written by the unsinkable Barucha Calamidad, to show this community that you reject Chancellor Subbaswamy's anti-Semitic take on BDS, Palestinian liberation speech and action, and his unfair characterization of the upcoming "Criminalizing Dissent: the Attack on BDS and Pro-Palestinian Speech" event on Nov. 12th (also please consider attending this event! Allies are needed and Cornel West and Linda Sarsour will be speaking). Tix (FREE) for the event are in my comments.

GEO Member Barucha Peller has written the following statement rejecting Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement in regards to the "Criminalizing Dissent: the attack on BDS and Pro-Palestinian Speech" event on Nov. 12th at UMass Amherst. We, Jewish members of GEO, other Unions on campus, and the students a...

11/05/2019

Elections for Bargaining Committee next week. Who do you want to fight for YOUR CONTRACT in Bargaining 2020?

11/04/2019

TODAY begins ENGINEERING WEEK!!!! A special series for anyone who walks by the Engineering Quad next week Mon-Tue-Wed-Thu. GRAB SOME FREE COFFEE & SNACKS.

10/30/2019

TODAY!!!! Join us for a spooky Up With Workers Breakfast! Tell your elected GEO reps terrifying things about your workplace! Also, remember you can fill out this survey we sent out last week about accommodations - not getting them is pretty scary! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeSEtbyiQsTZ2_Q0KnugXf2RuxAKbj7fWVJgvjNI8oasW5oZw/viewform

10/28/2019

Support for SJP's Letter to Chancellor Subbaswamy

Students for Justice in Palestine have drafted this amazing letter in response to Chancellor Subbaswamy's statement last week which, steeped in hypocrisy, calls out the Criminalizing Dissent event, featuring multiple speakers from diverse backgrounds, as "one-dimensional" and "polarizing", whereas Benny Morris' lecture will single-handedly take on the war of 1948 and likely continue to propagate HIS anti-semitic views.

Please fill out this form with your name and/or organization and title to support UMass' Chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP): (The letter below does not include the links to sources and bolded sections. Here is the link to the official document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yFn...

10/28/2019

FERPA – why you should waive it – Graduate Employee Organization – UAW 2322

Very important affecting your contract: GEO leadership, myself included, need full and complete counts of how many members we are - that is the first piece of info needed to start the contract negotiation process Bargaining 2020. Please help your contract negotiation process: by letting your union see your employment info. This is called FERPA WAIVER even if you disagree, please take a moment to read that page for the logic behind this request. https://www.geouaw.org/ferpa-why-you-should-waive-it/

10/27/2019

The GEO Co-Chairs (Jyoti and Purple) are going to make it regular practice to solicit member input for meetings. If you wish to make your voice heard at any point, please write directly to Jyoti ([email protected]) - some of political topics we discuss are contentious, and the best way to ensure a thriving democracy is to have many views present at Membership Meeting.

10/25/2019

Defying Injunction, Massachusetts Teachers Strike

✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼

In Massachusetts, strikes are unlawful for public sector workers. That didn’t stop the Dedham Educators Association from walking out this morning after an overwhelming 248- 2 (out of 280 members) strike vote last night. The educators in this Boston suburb are crying foul about health insurance cos...

10/24/2019

Members Info Page

A lot of our new members are not getting emails from GEO! These emails serve as an indispensable info-sharing tool Please take a moment to send the following link around in your department; people can subscribe themselves (we will verify that these requests get approved only for people who have taken membership by signing a membership dues form) https://list.umass.edu/mailman/listinfo/members

To see the collection of prior postings to the list, visit the Members Archives. (The current archive is only available to the list members.)

10/23/2019

NEUWC Homestay Form

The Northeast Undergraduate Worker Convention is coming up on November 15th and 16th! We voted to support this convention, and one way to support can be to host a worker for the weekend of the convention. Fill out the form here:
https://forms.gle/wRik5Nn2jhuUT2wMA

Thank you for volunteering to host someone for the Northeast Undergraduate Worker Convention! Please fill out this form so we can understand your preferences and needs for hosting somebody. Any questions can be directed to [email protected]

10/23/2019

Brewing up some coffee for Up With Workers! Come join us in 917.

10/23/2019

THIS MORNING 9:30 to 11:00 A.M. UP WITH WORKERS WEDNESDAY Morning Breakfast. Tell us what's going on in your department. Find out what's going on with your union. Get FREE COFFEE, BAGELS, PASTRY, BREAKFAST etc. and stay for casual shop-talk if you can. CAMPUS CENTER 9th Floor ROOM 917.

10/22/2019

Recap: October 2019 Membership Meeting – Graduate Employee Organization – UAW 2322

We had the October membership meeting last Thursday. Click the link and see what transpired at the meeting: https://www.geouaw.org/recap-october-2019-membership-meeting/

10/17/19 Membership Meeting took place in Campus Center Room 168 during lunch time 11am – 1pm. The meeting started with an open forum about discussing current affairs that impact our membership. The issue that were discussed were:  Supreme Court will interpret the anti-discrimination Civil ...

10/22/2019

UP WITH WORKERS WEDNESDAY Morning Breakfast continues this week. Tell us what's going on in your department. Find out what's going on with your union. Get free coffee, breakfast and stay for casual shop-talk if you can. CAMPUS CENTER 9th Floor ROOM 917.

10/17/2019

Pay associazione Mezzaluna Rossa Kurdistan Italia Onlus using PayPal.Me

There will be more updates coming about today's Membership Meeting, but here's one part: We voted Yes to donate $1000 to support the injured Kurdish people in Rojava via the organization Heyva Sor:
Heyva Sor is the Kurdish equivalent of the Red Cross and does the most direct on-the-ground work to support injured and displaced people in Northern Syria.

Their spots in the war zone are also under attack, there is not enough resource, doctors and staff to support injured people. And international doctors are hesitant to go, stay and support because they are targeted in the war zone.

To donate
There are several countries that host Heyva Sor bank accounts, but for those Americans who are not familiar with easily transferring money directly from one bank to another with IBAN codes etc. like they do in Europe, the best solution is to go to the Italian site because it has PayPal which makes donating very easy.

Here is the direct link to the Italian Heyva Sor PayPal page:

https://www.paypal.me/mezzalunarossacurda?locale.x=it_IT

And if you want more information, here is a link to the general page about the organization:

http://www.heyvasor.com/en/derbare-heyvasor-de/

Go to paypal.me/mezzalunarossacurda and type in the amount. Since it’s PayPal, it's easy and secure. Don’t have a PayPal account? No worries.

10/17/2019

International declaration of solidarity with Rojava

International declaration of solidarity with Rojava

A group of international scholars, students, activists and organizers express their solidarity with the struggle of the Kurds and the people of northern Syria.

10/15/2019

Nominations are now open for the GEO/UAW 2322 bargaining committee! There are four paid bargaining positions (10hrs/week starting Spring semester), 5 volunteer positions, and an unlimited number of volunteer alternates on the committee!

Any full GEO member in good standing may nominate themselves or another GEO member in good standing for any of these positions:
– Bargaining Research & Proposal Coordinators (2) (10 hr. contract)
– Bargaining Organizing & Mobilization Coordinators (2) (10 hr. contract)
– Bargaining Committee At-Large members (5 unpaid & unlimited alternate volunteer positions)
Send your nomination & a short candidate statement (due by 11:59 PM on October 25th, 2019) to: [email protected]

More information on the GEO website: https://www.geouaw.org/nominations-now-open-for-the-geo-bargaining-committee/

10/14/2019

Tell General Motors to negotiate a fair contract with 48,000 American workers

Stay informed about updates on the GM strike - it's still on! (Stewards' Assembly voted to donate $1000 to this movement, and we circulated a letter of solidarity to all of you over email two weeks ago.)

My name is Meme Edwards. I have worked for General Motors in Michigan for more than two decades, but right now I'm on strike along with tens of thousands of colleagues from 70 facilities in 19 states. Let me tell you why I know General Motors is a special place that can do better. I met my husband w...

10/08/2019

UMass: Stop being an unfair employer! We demand you implement the RAPMU contract properly.
**Please sign below in support of our fellow workers**
https://forms.gle/s6JKGYPUuRSaJnT27

10/04/2019

Please sign this petition in solidarity with our fellow UAW 2322 members at POW/UAW2322: Providence Hospital Organized Workers who have faced horrific and illegal management practices.
https://forms.gle/untw7kc7xTmNhbXDA

10/02/2019

Once again, just as we do every Wednesday morning from 9-11am, we bring you LABOR BAGELS! 🥯🥯🥯🥯🥯🥯🥯
Come live your bagel fantasies with us!

10/01/2019

The LGBTQIA+ Graduate Student Support Group will meet tomorrow, Tuesday October 1st from 7:00 - 8:30pm in South College W201. Food will be provided. The group is facilitated by two queer and trans graduate students! See attached flier for future meeting dates!

09/25/2019

Come get your Labor Bagels right now! GEO's weekly UP WITH WORKERS breakfast is here and ready for you in Campus Center 917. We've got pastries, coffee, fruit, juice, and MANY FLAVORS OF LABOR BAGELS. Please don't skimp on the cream cheese either.

09/22/2019

Highly successful event and honestly just the most incredible movie! Holyoke Community Field was the best venue possible - great support staff, fantastic facilities, clean bathrooms, playground area for kids, and best of all a gorgeous sunset.
Next one at UMass??????? Yes??????

09/20/2019

Thousands more auto workers furloughed with more layoffs coming as GM and suppliers idle plants in UAW strike

As workers were on the picket lines Monday night, GM decided to terminate insurance coverage for thousands of UAW members and their families.

The UAW activated the strike fund to help fill the gap and ensure that no one loses their care.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/20/thousands-more-workers-furloughed-as-gm-and-suppliers-idle-plants-in-uaw-strike.html

Canadian trade union Unifor said roughly 4,500 of its members have been temporarily laid off because of the GM strike so far.

09/20/2019

Solidarity!

Go UAW!

09/20/2019

POW/UAW2322: Providence Hospital Organized Workers

News from Providence Hospital where the boss made unilateral changes to paid time off and our POW/UAW members fought back and won’t take it any more!

“The fact of the matter is that we all feel disrespected,” said Michelle Reardon, a seven-year hospital employee who chairs the POW union. Reardon said her union’s members have upheld their end of the collective bargaining agreement, but management is not doing the same. “It’s kind of like a slap in the face to us.”

09/18/2019

Don’t miss out on our first membership meeting of the semester with Pita Pockets!! Life sciences labs room S330

09/18/2019

One Does Not Simply

We're working on this! #WorkingFellows
Some meetings and updates coming soon. Watch this space.

A One Does Not Simply meme. Caption your own images or memes with our Meme Generator.

09/18/2019

UMass Amherst Moves Forward with Plans to Seek Proposals From Private Developers to Build New Undergraduate and Graduate Family Housing

Have you heard? North Village and Lincoln are being shut down and we are gearing up to fight this hard. Do you know who lives there and needs those residences the most?
- single income parents
- people with disabilities
- international students

https://www.umass.edu/newsoffice/article/umass-amherst-moves-forward-plans-seek

The University of Massachusetts Amherst will soon move ahead with plans to seek proposals from private developers to construct new undergraduate housing and graduate family housing after receiving approval to proceed from the UMass Board of Trustees. Proposals will be sought for a public-private par...

09/18/2019

Breakfast on Us!!!Come join us in Campus Center 917 for Up with Workers...chat with GEO staff, let’s learn about our contract, and tell us what’s happening in your department!

09/16/2019

Come get food at the welcome event!!! Here until 6 in the studio arts building second floor.

09/16/2019

ELECTION UPDATE!
You can vote this evening at the Welcome Event, Studio Arts Building. Event is 4-6, voting is 5-6

If you live in or around North Village, you can vote in a special quick "satellite" session this evening 7:30-8

09/13/2019

Our union

Please read this statement from the 2322 Executive Board on the state of our union and the despicable behavior of some leaders. We are appalled and infuriated about the fact that a handful of people in positions of trust in the UAW betrayed the people they represent. Nonetheless, as a local and in our workplaces we still have lots of work to do to build OUR union and that does not depend on the national union or its bureaucracy. We ONLY answer to you, our members, and we hope to figure out together, along with other locals, how to change the national leadership along with the institutional structures and practices that made this possible.

Fellow workers, Thank you for entrusting us with the leadership of your local union.  We educate the very young, we provide life-saving mental and behavioral health care, we teach college and …

09/12/2019

UAW/UMass Trust Fund on Twitter

Talk to Leslie Edwards, Director of Benefits, and Craig Iverson from Metlife today at 3pm on a live Twitter chat.
All your lingering benefits questions answered!

“Have benefit questions? On Thursday, 9/12 we chat at 3 pm with MetLife rep Craig Iverson and Dir. of Benefits Leslie Edwards Davis!”

09/12/2019

POW/UAW2322: Providence Hospital Organized Workers

Hey GEO members! Members in our Local are dealing with an UNFAIR EMPLOYER!

Look out for news coming from POW/UAW 2322 and LIKE THEIR PAGE!

From POW/UAW2322:

"Since the beginning of 2019, Trinity Health of New England has attempted to unilaterally impose sweeping changes in our CTO, Holidays, EIT, and many other related benefits, and to Attendance policies at Providence Hospital. Trinity also unilaterally eliminated most benefits for 16 hour employees, which affects not just those members, but also per diem employees who, under our contract, can qualify for benefits if they average 16 hours a week over a half calendar year.

Our Union fought back. We filed several “unfair labor practice charges” against management with the National Labor Relations Board. After months of investigation, the NLRB has notified Trinity that Trinity’s actions violate federal law. The NLRB has informed Trinity that a trial will be scheduled in front of an administrative law judge, unless Trinity agrees to restore the status quo and make all affected employees whole.

Union representatives and stewards will be contacting members individually over the coming days to gather information about how you have been affected by Trinity’s illegal actions.

We will keep members posted on further developments in the case. In the meantime, if you have any questions, you should contact Michelle Reardon ([email protected])

Let this be a message to all of us, that there is POWER in our Union. Let this be a message to Trinity Hospital that if it disrespects our contract and our members, we will fight back…. and WIN!!!!"

Building Providence member solidarity! Time for action people!!