This event will feature a look back at GEO’s past struggles and how these challenges will prepare us for contract negotiations in 2012. This campaign kickoff will include former members that were active in the three-day student strike in 1991 that led to the recognition of a graduate employee union on the UMass campus.

Current GEO leaders and activists will speak about recent struggles including the funding of graduate employee raises, the reduction of oral contraceptive prices, and the support for the rights of other public sector workers.

This event will also include a Speak Out with current graduate student employees about the current state of their workplace and what they would like to see in the next GEO contract. Please come with your good ideas.

GEO represents more than 2500 graduate student employees at UMass/Amherst and is a proud member of the United Auto Workers (UAW), Local 2322, which represents 3600 workers in Western Massachusetts in the fields of higher education, early childhood education, and health and human services.

This event is free and open to all current and potential graduate workers. Light refreshments will be served.