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U-Minn. Graduate Assistants Advance Union Drive
As they proceed with a two-pronged approach to building their union, graduate assistants at the University of Minnesota say they are both hopeful and realistic.
Tuesday morning, one group of graduate assistants delivered a letter to the university president, asking that the university join with the majority of its 4,500 graduate assistants to file a petition for union recognition with the state mediation bureau.
Across the river, a second group of graduate teaching assistants asked the bureau to schedule a union election. Said research assistant and union spokesman Scott Thaller:
We know that a joint petition is a more democratic and inclusive way to form our union and we are hopeful that the University will agree to file joint petition. But we are preparing for other outcomes by also asking the BMS to call a union election.
The graduate assistants have formed Graduate Student Workers United and are seeking to join a union with help from the UAW.
The university blocked three organizing efforts by University of Minnesota graduates since 1991, but Thaller said,
this time, so many grad assistants are involved and support the way that a union will finally give us the right and power to advocate for ourselves, that we believe we will succeed.
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3 Comments
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Education is becoming more expensive and unaffordable as tuition fees increase, student loans become harder to get, and some politicians are just indifferent to the educational issues! Worse yet, some radical right-wingers went so as to say “get rid of the Department of Education” while their own kids go to better and private schools! One way to make education affordable and accessible to the average American kid, and adult too, is to unionize and be able to have a voice! Power is in numbers! America can do better than this!
Date-Line: San Marcos CA 92078. 1-18-12, 1:05 am PST.
Hurray for you and your Educated Group, I’m Duke Univ,
Civil Eng, 1955. Also: AFL-CIO-ALPA, JFK, NYNY-(24yrs)
Finance Comm Chair, Comm Chair, (3900 Piots). And an
B-747sp Instructor Pilot(ATP)FAA Lic:B-707, B-720, B-747
FAA Flight Nav & Water Landings (Sully Sulenberg- Hudson)
NOTE: Your Efforts To Organize, difficult at Best, However;
Rewards simplify all future aspects of your Careers, giving
a UNITED group ONE VOICE of Your Choice to negotiate all
employment Opportunities. If You need a good model to use
– Use one of the US Airlines ALPA Contracts, ask for one from
AFL-CIO HQ, I was on the Contract Negotiation Comm for 4 contracts 4 years each- 1966 to 1988 Pan Am NY. Go to Your Airport – ask PILOTS to Help You – Best have them attend
gathering of your group (30 or 40) strong at first, Set a Plan.
A Time Chart TTD, appoint (Volunteers) to serve as Chair of
ONE, Each Subject, Pay, Medical, Hours, Sick Leave, Sebatical,
Life Ins, Conduct, Training, — You have the Idea–
Best of Luck to You all – It’s A Good Thing You are Doing -
“IF YOUR MOTIVE IS PURE”, “YOUR SUCCESS IS ASSURED”
Protect Your Self and You Protect Your Employer – Create a
“MOTTO”, a “SLOGAN”, a “LOGO”, WEEKLY LETTER TO YOUR
INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS.
I’m not saying you’re a liar, but pilots are very methodical in everything they do, and I do not see that sophistication of a pilot’s dialogue in your writing.