4 Page 12-- The Michigan Daily - Friday, April 14, 1989 GRADUATE EMPLOYEES ORGANIZATION 15 YEARS OF STRENGTH AND PROGRESS 1974-1989 All TAs are invited to GEO's 15th Anniversary Celebration Friday, April 14, 4-8 PM Assembly Hall, 4th Floor Rackham Refreshments served Highlights from GEO's first 15 years: * Fall,'73: The summer before, U-M removes TAs' in-state tuition benefit which had historically been a part of a teaching fellowship. TAs react with spontaneous meetings leading to the first campus-wide TA organization, named OTF (Organization of Teaching Fellows). ** April, 74: Research and Staff Assistants (RAs and SAs) join OTFs activities and protests. TAs, RAs and SAs overwhelmingly approve GEO (Graduate Employees Organization) as their official bargaining agent in a certification election. The vote is approved by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC) on April 15. GEO is born. * February, 75: GEO's first bargaining with U-M Administration stalls after eight months and enters mediation. GEO membership overwhelmingly votes in favor of a strike, which begins in early February. Hundreds of Graduate Assistants picket U-M; more than 50% of the undergraduates boycott their classes; and teamsters recognize the strike and agree not to drive their trucks through GEO's picket lines. After five weeks the strike ends when U-M accepts GEO's proposals. Immediately afterwards GEOs first contract is ratified by the membership. ** 1976: GEO affiliates with the American Federation of Teachers, and becomes a local #3550 of the Michigan Federation of Teachers. * 1976: During negotiations for a second contract, CEO charges that U-M's negotiating stance constitutes an Unfair Labor Practice. U-M claims that GEO cannot file a ULP charge against the U-M because TAs and RAs are not employees. The question whether TAs and RAs are in fact employees is debated in court for the next five years. ** November, 1981: MERC rules that U-M TAs--but not RAs-are employees of the University. GEO is re-legitimized as a collective bargaining unit. CEO's second contract, for which negotiations began in '76, is signed by both parties on November 23. ** September, 1983: GEO and U-M settle the third contract, ratified immediately by the membership (98% majority). ** April, 1985: GEO and U-M settle the fourth contract, ratified immediately by the membership. ** October, 1986: GEO and U-M settle the fifth contract, ratified immediately by the membership. ** February-April, 1987: Negotiations for the sixth contract stall, with GEO demanding a full tuition waiver and paid TA training. The membership authorizes a strike if a settlement is not reached by midnight April 8. That night, over 900 TAs attend the largest membership meeting in GEOs history, and GEO's bargaining team announces that U-M has agreed to a full tuition waiver and credity/pay for TA training. A strike is averted by the narrowest of margins. The sixth contract is ratified the following week. ** January-April, 1988: Changes in the Federal tax law render the full tuition waiver a tremendous tax liability for TAs and RAs, costing some out-of-state TAs up to $200/ month in taxes. In March, over 600 TAs and RAs rally and eventually occupy the Fleming Building to protest U-M's interpretation of the tax change. * October-November, 1988: After a TA initiated letter-writing campaign to Congress, lobbying by U-M officials, and support from the Michigan Delegation, Congress removes the tax on tuition waivers, and TAs finally reap full benefit from their '87 contract. ** March, 1989: GEO and U-M settle the seventh contract, ratified immediately by the membership. 4 (Date of Ratification) Salary Increase Tuition Waiver Benefits TA Training I. Feb.1975 5.6% Group health & life insurance grievance procedure -- 4 II. Nov.1981 4.5% TAs legally established as employees Dental Benefits Depts. required to discuss issue w/TAs if 25% request meeting Depts. required to offer TA training III. Sept.1983 5.0% First established by contract 40%; 45% for candidates above .25 fraction 50% for all above .25 fraction 56% above .25 fraction 14 IV. April1985 V. October 1986 5.0% 4.7% -- -- VI. At)riL 1987 0.0% 88% 1st year TA traininix must 14 - VI Anril 1987.......88..l.tvear TA ....«..g must3.