At Monday afternoon’s bargaining session, the Graduate Employees’ Organization and the University agreed on all of the union’s nonmonetary concerns as negotiations on a new contract drag on. 

The two groups, which have been butting heads since the GEO’s contract expired in August, came to agreements on sections of the contract concerning nursing mothers, bereavement leave, and visa and immigration leave, according to Ingbert Schmidt, a graduate student and member of the GEO’s bargaining team.

Tuition waivers, wages and health care are still on the table.

GEO spokeswoman Stephanie Seawell said that although GEO members were frustrated after Monday’s session, they anticipate a comprehensive proposal from the University at Tuesday morning’s session.

“That frustration will mount if there isn’t a significant proposal (Tuesday),” Seawell said.

The University remains hopeful that an agreement can be reached through mediation.

“The University remains confident that working together in good faith; we are confident an agreement can be reached,” campus spokeswoman Robin Kaler said in an email.

Schmidt said the GEO laid out a proposal that explicitly explained how tuition waivers could be changed through bargaining, providing both sides with equal control over the waivers.

“If they have sole discretion over how much of the tuition is waived, they can just pay us $100,000 but make tuition $200,000,” Schmidt said.

Health care is an issue that concerns GEO members, especially those with dependents.

Schmidt, who has a son he provides for, said a 35 percent increase in per-semester premium coverage would be a huge help for him.

The two groups have reached a tentative agreement on that rate, Schmidt said.

In the event of an unsuccessful mediation Tuesday, Seawell said a strike is still an option for the GEO, but members have been thinking of other ways to reach an agreement with the University without a strike.

The “Unity at the Union” work-in on Monday at the Illini Union was one of those efforts.

“We’ve had well over 100 people come in and out throughout the day,” she said. “People have held classes here, people have held meetings and reading groups and have (held) office hours here.” 

Seawell also said a small group of GEO members plan to stay in the Union overnight, as it is “the center of campus community life at this University,” according to a news release.

“The Union closes at midnight,” Seawell said. “We aren’t going to leave.”

Tyler can be reached at [email protected].