4 2A - Thursday, February 21, 2008 The art of negotiation Graduate student instructors gathered in Haven Hall yes- terday to hold a grade-in as a protest to draw attention to the Graduate Employees' Organi- zation's ongoing contract nega- tions with the University. But this wasn't the first time that a group of gradoate students have hounded together for a cause. The Graduate Employees Organization is a labor union established in 1970 to lobby the University on the behalf of grad- uate students. Every three years, the union renegotiates its contract with the University. About a year before the cur- rent contract is set to expire, onion members begin hold- ing meetings to compile a list of changes or additions for the next contract. The union then appoints a bargaining team to meet with University officials and negotiate the new contract. The union currently repre- sents about 1,600 GSIs and staff assistants. The second-oldest graduate employee union in the country, the GEO has won important concessions from the University during its 37-year history. As a result of a GEO threat to strike in 1993, the University didn'tgo through with proposed reductions in health care cover- age. In 1996, the union successful- ly campaigned to have the title of student teachers changed from teaching assistants to graduate student instructors. Doctoral student Patrick O'Mahen, GEO communica- tions director, said GED has been more progressive than the University by recognizing and fighting for issues like benefits for same-sex domestic partners and resources for teachers with disabilities. "We really pushed a lot of things in our contracts that were a little bit ahead of their time, like non- discrimination language," he said. "We were protecting gay and lesbian workers in 1976, 20 years before the University." Eackham student Helen Ho, president of the organization, said although the group targets graduate students, it also looks out for the interests of the Uni- versity as a whole. "GEO looks out for welfare of graduate student employees, but also for all workers and students to make University of Michigan a better place to work, live and learn," she said. JILLIAN BERMAN Graduate Emyloyees Organizotion Presidest Helen He and Dave Deb- bie, the former president of OtO, talk durint the unionsgrade-in in Haven Hall yesterday. GED is negotiating a new contract with the Uni- versity on hehaltuoferaduate student instructors and statftassistants. The Michigan Daily - michigandailycom 420 Maynard Sc. Ann Arbor, Mt 48t09-1327 www.michigandaily.cem ANDREW GROSSMLAN DAVID GOH Editer in Chief Business Hanager 734-647-3336 734-764-ease eeosman@michigandaityvaom galr@michigaedaiy.cem CONTACT INFORMATION Newsroom ofie hr:,v:.-rhurs. 11 a.m.- 2 a. 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Addtionlces maybe icked upat healys ieefor$2,yubscritions fr fll ter, sartingein Septembrnira U.S.emil aret11. iter term nttrthrauh Apl is$115yerlng(epemer trough April) is $19t. tUnersity affiliates are subject to areucedsubsription rate. Ot-caepua subs eipti fr fltermltree$35.tSucipfntloidnlbrepi.Theicign bilyefs Hdbe df TheAssoitedPressand TeAssoiated Cllegite Phes. CRIME NOTES CAMPUS EVENTS & NOTES Runner's bag Mountain bike Screening of stolen at CCRB taken from rack 'China Blue' WHERE: Central Campus WIHERE: Parking Lot M-15, WHAT: A screening of t Eecreation Building 1170W Medical Center documentary China Blur WHEN: Tuesday at about 4 WIHEN: Tuesday at about 2:30 which chronicles worki: p.m. p.m. conditions at a blue jean WHAT: A backpack contain- WIHAT: A Huffy Eed Baron tory in southern China. ing a laptop, cell phone and mountain bike was stolen from WHO: University Union ocher miscellaneous belong- ,a bike rack near the parking Arts and Programs, Sct logs was stolen after it was lot, DPS reported. The bike was Organizing for Labor ani left unattended near the valued at $89.97. Police have no Economic Equality CCEB's running track, the suspects.WHNToafrm6t Department of Public Safety p.m. reported.Gy WHERE: VandenbergR . altsw p d G mlocker Michigans Union Wallt swped looted, cell from backpack poeae Lecture on WHERE: Angellll im pact of WHEN: Tuesday at about 1:30 WHERE: North Campus Eec- p.m. reation Building, Supreme Cou WHAT: A student reported WHEN: Tuesday at about 9:45 that someone stole his wal- p.m. WHAT: National Public let from his backpack, DPS WHAT: A cell phone was sto- Eadio correspondent Ni. reported. The wallet contained len from a gym bagesometime Totenberg will discuss t $060 in cash, two credit cards last Wednesday, DPS reported. Supreme6 Court's impact -and an ID. Police have no sun- The bag was left in a locker. we. Teevnpi r pects. Police have no suspects. and open to the public. WHO: Institute for Research on Women and Gender WHEN: Today at 7 p.m. WHERE: Mendelssohn The- atre, Michigan League the fat- Free HIV [ts testing on dNorth Campus WHAT: Free and anony- Room, moos HIV testing. The clinic will also be showing the Black Entertainment Televi- sion news segment "Stigma: The Silent Eller." WHO: Health Promotions and Community Eelations at University Health Service WHEN: Today from 7 to 9 [rt p.m. WHERE: Media Union, c Duderstadt Center the CORRECTIONS on on Please report any error in e the Daily to corrections@ michigandaily.com. 1Starting in early March, both northbound lanes of State Street between Huron Street and Washington Street will be closed until the spring of 2000 due to North Quad construction. The southbound lanes will not be affected. 2The men's basketball team currently boasts the lon- 2gest winning streak in the Big Ten conference. The team has won its past three games and will put its streak on the line against Minnesota tonight. >>FOR MORE, SEE PAGE SA 3Today marks the 50th anniverary of the peace sign. The symbol was designed by a British textile designer for a protest at nucle- ar weapons plant because the simple circle would look good on television. S 0 01