URBANA — Campus administrators expressed surprise Monday at the intent-to-strike notice filed by the union representing graduate students at the University of Illinois.þþWith another bargaining session scheduled for today, the Graduate Employees Organization filed paperwork with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board, starting a 10-day countdown until union members can legally walk off the job.þþThe union also staged a short strike in 2009.þþÿAfter the last three mediated bargaining sessions, the GEO's Bargaining Team and Strike Committee determined that it is highly unlikely that contract negotiations can be resolved at the table without abandoning many union protections and the chance to secure financial stability for its membership,ÿ a GEO statement said Wednesday.þþChancellor Robert Jones said he was surprised by the timing, considering the next round of negotiations was set for today.þþÿThis is a disappointing development,ÿ Jones told faculty members at the Senate Executive Committee meeting on Monday. ÿIt was my understanding that there was starting to be some momentum, some progress, particularly with the meeting planned tomorrow. The provost and I had pretty much decided on some things that we were going to put on the table.ÿþþHe declined to elaborate, but added, ÿMost of us have been graduate students at one point in our lives. We understand how challenging it is. It really is about paying them fairly for the work that they do,ÿ and keeping their pay competitive for recruitment purposes, he said.þþThe GEO insisted it still wants to reach an agreement but said it hopes the strike notice will put pressure on UI administrators at today's bargaining session. The union has accused the UI of stalling in the negotiations, which began in March.þþÿWe simply want a better campus and better graduate school experience for everyone across the Champaign County communities,ÿ GEO co-President Marilia Correa said in the release. ÿIf the UIUC administration forces us into a work stoppage, they will put campus operations at risk, jeopardize this spring semester and force classes to cancel, wasting the tuition money undergraduates pay to go here.ÿþþJones said he remains hopeful the campus can avoid a strike and remains ÿabsolutely committed to negotiating a solution to this as soon as possible.ÿþþThe union represents about 2,700 teaching assistants and graduate assistants who teach classes, conduct research and do other jobs. They receive tuition waivers and are also paid stipends for their work. Their last contract expired Aug. 15.
www.news-gazette.com/
