The GEO began voting on Nov. 4 to authorize a strike committee. Of those voting, 92 percent of the GEO’s members voted in favor of authorizing the committee to organize a strike.

This is the first time in the GEO’s history that a local member of the federation of teachers voted to authorize a strike committee, which could determine a strike date if there is no progress in negotiations. A total of 777 GEO members cast votes. There is a total of 2,600 members in the organization.

“The GEO strike committee will call upon every member of the GEO bargaining unit (all Teachers’ Assistants and Graduate Asssistants) to withhold all labor pertaining to their assistantship in the event of a strike,” said Peter Campbell, GEO communications officer, during the press conference.

The GEO strike committee will also call upon University faculty to cancel their classes in solidarity with any GEO strike, and at a minimum to take steps to ensure that faculty do not teach classes within picketed buildings, Campbell said.

Campbell said the GEO had undertaken work actions in the past. However, that was before it was legally recognized by the University and before the collective bargaining agreement.

“We think that it’s not in the best interest of the GEO or of the University to have a strike, but the GEO is certainly allowed to do that, and since they are threatening one, we certainly are planning for that possibility,” said Robin Kaler, University spokeswoman.

On Monday, the Illinois Student Senate will pass a resolution that calls for a timely and fair conclusion to the contract negotiation process between the GEO and the University bargaining team.

“We respect the rights of those students who would strike, but we want this University to move to a timely and fair end in these contract negotiations, for the greater good of our University,” said Carey Ash, Illinois Student Senate vice president internal. “We’re in a state that is facing a feasible budget short fall. At the same time, the graduate student employees at this institution are asking for a living wage.”

According to the FY 2010 budget guidelines from the University’s Office of Budget and Financial Services, there are no general salary programs for faculty this coming year, nor are there standards or across-the-board increases for any graduate assistant employees.

Kaler said the University is grateful for the contributions of graduate employees, but added that the financial climate is challenging.

“The University is already facing pretty large cuts and faces a very uncertain financial future, so we’re already pulling from all areas. We’re still looking at the possibilities of furloughs and layoffs this year,” Kaler said. “We have to do that because the state is not able to pay us what it has promised us. It’s a very tough year, and I think that’s something everyone needs to remain aware of—other employees of the University did not receive any raises at all this year,” she said.

Campbell said he hopes the University will be able to meet with the GEO this week to work out a contract, and that the GEO is willing to meet with the administration as many times as possible. However, he said the organization has made their feelings on the current contract proposal apparent.

“I would say that the GEO bargaining team has a clear mandate from the membership that the current administration contract proposal is unacceptable, and that the membership is willing to go on strike in support of the bargaining teams efforts in the negotiating room,” Campbell said.

Campbell added that the University is refusing to include contractual tuition waiver protection and is reserving the right to lay off graduate employees in good standing and to prevent the GEO from reopening negotiations during the term of its contract.

“The GEO is prepared to go on strike at any time,” Campbell said.