On the clock

'U' and GEO must reach agreement soon

Last weekend, the Graduate Employees Organization voted to authorize a strike. This motion was approved by a vast majority of the organization, with 77 percent of members voting in favor of striking. March 15 is the date set to begin an open-ended strike should efforts to obtain a contract fail. Before going on strike, GEO plans to hold a one-day walkout on March 10 and a half-day walkout on March 11 as a last ditch attempt to force the University into a settlement. For almost three weeks, GEO has been working without a contract, hoping to avoid a deal similar to the one it signed in 1996, which produced a salary increase insufficient to meet the expenses of living in Ann Arbor. The University and GEO must work together in this short timetable to reach a bargain satisfying both parties; otherwise, the effects of a strike could devastate the University.

GEO has already shown a great willingness to compromise, having lowered its wage increase demands from 37 percent to 9 percent. But the University has not budged from its proposed increase of 2.5 percent. In fact, the University's offer, which basically recalculates the number of hours that graduate employees work so that they receive more money for more hours of work, is not a real increase. In many cases, the compensation for the number of hours worked will actually decrease.

In addition, the University's proposal demands even more of graduate employees' already-scarce time. After all, GSIs are students as well, attending classes, conducting research and working on dissertations. Many of them are willing to meet with undergraduate students outside of class and office hours. The University's offer, which would require many GSIs to teach an extra discussion section, would leave less individual time for undergraduates and the members of GEO themselves. Since GSIs are the crucial link between professors and students, this would prove detrimental to undergraduate education.

With a strike date set, a settlement between GEO and the University is even more crucial. A lengthy work stoppage would throw the academic calendar into a state of flux, particularly hurting undergraduates. The University's reputation as a center of quality education is also at stake. Better compensation will attract the best GSIs to the University. If the University forces GEO to strike, a negative perception may encourage graduate students to enroll elsewhere. A failure to reach an agreement could hurt every aspect of the University.

The standoff between the University and GEO must come to an end soon. Because GEO has already shown a great deal of willingness to compromise, it now falls to the University to make concessions, something it has so far failed to do. The University needs to take into account the cost of living in Ann Arbor, as well as the amount of time and effort graduate employees must put into their duties as both instructors and students. It is crucial that the University does its part to end a dispute that, if it continues, will be harmful to all students.

02-26-99