On the Verge of Striking

I’m sad and frustrated to note that our UIC grad students are on the verge of striking.

“The UIC Graduate Employees Organization (GEO), which represents Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants, remains far apart from the University administration on issues of salary, fees, and protections against workplace harassment, assault, and bullying. GEO intends to begin an indefinite strike on Monday, April 18th, 2022, assuming all the issues separating them are not resolved in their last bargaining session on April 14th.”

I am, of course, fully in support of our graduate students, and wish them a satisfying and speedy resolution to this strike.

I hate that the university has put vulnerable graduate students in this position, and additionally hate that in a time of international disaster, when our undergrads have suffered so much disruption, the university is disrupting their education further.

I’ll be joining the grad students on the picket lines when I can, and will be talking to my students about why GEO is striking, including such issues as fair wages, fee waivers, and protection against harassment, assault, and bullying.

I’m teaching in various buildings that will be picketed, and will also be talking to my students today about switching to alternative modalities of teaching (online) during the strike.

Solidarity.

(Photo from UIC 2019 GEO strike.)

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