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Marathon talks continue

Next week's scheduled walk-out loomed as the bargaining teams of the University and the Graduate Employees Organization continued their non-stop negotiations yesterday.

Both parties agreed at the onset of the talks Tuesday not to speak to the media and to include only GEO bargaining team members in the discussions.

"(Bargaining) has been going well," said GEO President Scott Dexter, who came from the non-stop bargaining session to address union members in yesterday's solidarity rally on the Diag.

The reason why the administration agreed to the marathon bargaining session was because "they knew the University community was completely behind (GEO), and there would be hell to pay," Dexter said.

"They've bargained last night and started early this morning," said Eric Dirnbach, a GEO Steering Committee member. "That's a good sign that talks are going well."

GEO spokesperson Pete Church said there was no clear way to identify the outcome of non-stop bargaining until it is over.

"They're still in meetings and will continue to be in meetings," Church said. "We have no way of knowing how it will turn out."

Dirnbach cautioned that GEO members are still planning to walk out April 8 and 9 if an agreement is not reached by both sides soon.

"We are prepared to implement our walk-out next week to demonstrate our commitment and solidarity," Dirnbach said.

Dexter also said to the crowd that the administration was beginning to bargain in good faith.

"In the last week, they've started to talk and take a few baby steps," Dexter said.

State Sen. Alma Wheeler Smith (D-Salem Twp.) praised the University's recent effort to bargain earnestly.

"The committment that the University has made to bargain around the clock is good," said Smith, who spoke at yesterday's rally.