Everything You Wanted To Know About Job Actions But Were Afraid To Ask

GEO Headquarters has put together a comprehensive FAQ about job actions, bargaining, etc. Follow the link below for the full document. Below are the highlights and SNRE specific questions.
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcg3b6nv_18dd8t4sh7

What is a job action? Is it different from a strike?
Any action in which we use our labor power to put pressure on the Administration is a job action. A strike is a job action in which we walk off the job and withhold our labor for an indefinite period of time. We sometimes use terms like “strike ballot”, “strike platform”, and “strike vote” even when the job action being considered is very different from an open-ended strike.

What’s this about violating our contract? I'm scared...
We had a contract which expired March 1st. We extended it to March 17th, and finally to this Monday March 24th. GEO wanted to keep the contract in place until the very last moment, so that employees would have security as long as possible. However, negotiations have reached an impasse, and so we will likely let the contract expire on Monday, March 24th. so that we can begin a job action without being in violation of our contract. You can't violate a contract that is expired!

If there is a walkout, will we get paid?
The university does not have to pay us for hours not worked. Legally, they can withhold a day’s pay for every day not worked. But in the past they have NOT done this, we have been paid even for days on strike. It is VERY difficult for the university to figure out who exactly missed how many days and to calculate the amount to be deducted from a thousand or more paychecks at different fraction allocations. For a two day walk out, it would probably not be worth it.

What about job security?
Hundreds of GSI’s cannot easily be replaced, and we would also demand that our new contract include a ‘no reprisals’ clause, meaning members can't be penalized for participating in the job action. The university honored this clause in the 1991 contract after two job actions.

But SNRE has no job security to begin with?!?
In SNRE we have a unique situation - we have many more applicants than jobs, and our department will not guarantee funding. Because people have some very legitimate concerns about job security, we encourage everyone to do as much as they feel comfortable with. Talk with your supervising faculty member about how you will handle a walk out. They may want to support GEO, and a compromise can make you both look good!

Here is a list of things that GSIs can do:

• A full walk out
• Hold classes off campus
• Devote part of your teaching time to explaining the strike
• Move your office hours off campus
• Let your students leave early
• Don't answer e-mail during the walk out
• TAKE A SHIFT ON THE PICKET LINE

The last one is most important. The University will not know if you meet students at Pizza House, it will look like class is canceled. But showing support on the picket line is very visible and will affect the negotiations.

I'm a GSRA, how does this affect me?

GSRAs and students on fellowship buy into the same group health care plans that GSIs do. The same benefits that GSIs get are usually extended to GSRAs and fellowship students. GSRAs aren't represented by a collective bargaining unit. However, they have usually benefitted from GSI contract negotiations. If you are a GSRA, you're support is valuable, and you stand to gain from this negotation too.

Has GEO ever gone on strike or had a walk out?
In its 38 year history, GEO has authorized several strikes; it has only actually called a strike once. In 1975, GEO went on strike for 4 weeks to win our first contract with the university. In 1987, 1991 and 1993, affirmative strike authorization votes were enough to win acceptable contracts and ensure the integrity of the Union. During each of the last several contract campaigns, GEO has held one day walkouts.

Can I go to my own classes and continue with my research if we walkout?
Our aim in a strike or walkout is to shut down the university. We want to have as strong an effect as possible throughout the university. You can support your fellow GSIs by holding your meetings off campus, working from home, and not crossing their picket lines.

Won’t a strike or walkout just hurt undergrads and not the administration?
Withholding our labor sends a powerful message to the administration. We teach 40% of the contact hours that undergraduates experience and do nearly all the grading and evaluation. A strike demonstrates that fact very effectively! Once every 3 years, undergraduates have to miss a discussion section. In the long term, however, all undergrads will benefit from a better GEO contract. Better paid GSI’s are better teachers! Also, U of M students are very competitive for graduate school, some of them may be joining our ranks soon, and will then be able to have health care and other delicious treats.