Category Archives: Uncategorized

Dear Chancellor Holub,

Thank you for keeping the campus community updated on the status of the budget and the financial plans of the University. I do appreciate this communication and the transparency it brings to the campus.

Speaking, however, as someone who is increasingly suspicious of the administration’s good will particularly as regarding GEO contracts, I did not appreciate the implied criticism of my union and of those union members who, like me, feel that the University’s position towards us can best be characterized as complete financial and social lack of respect. While I am certainly grateful for any further “supportive statements,” the fact remains that the most recent contract, still unfunded, not only fails to provide any raise for the first year, but provides raises that are less than inflation for the two following years, if I remember correctly. Since my household already qualifies for state aid for fuel costs because of our graduate student incomes, and both my housemate and I already work more than one job, making it more difficult for both of us to pursue our studies effectively and in a timely way, which in turn will affect our job prospects, the contract as initially negotiated is almost insulting, since all of my expenses do indeed keep up with inflation. To be accused on top of this of divisiveness and finger pointing for having ceased to believe that the University administration have my best interests at heart is a further insult.

I understand that we are in difficult financial times. Realistically, though, the graduate students at UMass have been in difficult financial times since before the latest nation-wide economic catastrophe, so I hope that if you find us less amenable than usual to having our raises taken from us, our insurance co-pays increased, and our fees constantly under negotiation, you will grant us some leeway. Given that we also teach a large percent of the credit hours on the UMass campus and that our research not only helps to contribute to UMass’s reputation as a research institution but even sometimes produces grants and funding for the University, perhaps you will even be able to pardon us our cynicism.

At least until we have a contract that gives us a wage that is compatible with the cost of living in this area, that lets us stop worrying about constant changes in our health insurance, child care, and student fees, and that shows, rather than tells, how much the university values our contributions to campus life, teaching, and research.

Best,
Anna Strowe
Ph.D. Candidate
Comparative Literature
GEO Member 2007-present

To read the text of the Chancellor’s message, click here. We welcome any comments or feedback at geo@external.umass.edu.

GEO is hosting a World Cup party at The Harp in Amherst, MA on Monday, June 28 for members and their families.  Join us for a hearty lunch provided by GEO and the Harp starting at 2pm, and stay for the game at 2:30.  The teams in this Stage 2 match will be between the first ranking team of group G (Côte d’Ivoire, Portugal, Brazil, or Korea DPR) and the second ranking team of group H (Honduras, Spain, Chile, or Switzerland).

The Harp is located at 163 Sunderland Road, Amherst MA, and directions are available on its website.  Post-docs are welcome as well.

The GEO office will be closed Monday, June 28th for the party.  You can still reach us by phone, (413)545-0705 or email, geo@external.umass.edu.

Working on campus this summer? Come join us at the Coffee Cart for free, fair trade coffee and donuts some Monday mornings. Find out who else is on campus, learn about our World Cup viewings and let us know what’s up in your department.

First Coffee Cart is Monday, June 21 in the Lederle lobby. Look for us!

If you’d like the Coffee Cart to come to your lobby next time, send us an email at geo@external.umass.edu

GEO sends letter of support to striking student and labor organizations

In response to harsh administrative cutbacks, students at the University of Puerto Rico system have occupied their campuses for almost a month, making it the longest campus action of its kind in Puerto Rico’s history.  The university changes echo the austerity measures taken by the Puerto Rican government that have unjustly targeted the working class and sparked resistance from labor and student groups over the past year.

Many student and labor organizations have sent letters of support student and labor groups at the UPR, including the UMass-GEO Steering Committee.  We will also be collecting donations if you are interested in aiding the strike fund.

To : University of Puerto Rico Consejo de Estudiantes, The Asociación Puertorriqueña de Profesores Universitarios, La Hermandad de Empleados Exentos No Docentes

The Graduate Employee Organization at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, UAW 2322, offers its support and expresses its deep admiration for the struggle you are waging to protect public higher education.

We stand in solidarity with the students, workers, and allies and all the people of Puerto Rico, fighting for the future of their Commonwealth and the right to an education.