GEO considering strike
Updated: November 16, 2012
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS -- UI's Graduate Employees Organization is a step closer to going on strike. The group voted to assemble a strike committee.
Members now have full authority to call a strike. They'll hold their first meeting Friday night. Members say the main issue is tuition waivers. Without financial assistance, many teachers would be forced to choose other universities.
A spokesperson for GEO says the strike committee will decide if and when to strike. The hope is they can settle this in the bargaining room.
In 2009, about 1,000 GEO members went on strike and successfully won tuition waiver protection in their contracts. But, the group says UI violated the contract by charging incoming students hundreds of dollars in tuition.
Members now have full authority to call a strike. They'll hold their first meeting Friday night. Members say the main issue is tuition waivers. Without financial assistance, many teachers would be forced to choose other universities.
A spokesperson for GEO says the strike committee will decide if and when to strike. The hope is they can settle this in the bargaining room.
In 2009, about 1,000 GEO members went on strike and successfully won tuition waiver protection in their contracts. But, the group says UI violated the contract by charging incoming students hundreds of dollars in tuition.
