After one year of bargaining on this article, Penn admin has finally agreed to the protections against discrimination and harassment that workers deserve. With the rights outlined in this article, graduate workers will be able to address cases of discrimination and harassment through the procedure outlined in the Grievance and Arbitration article. Thus, we will now have enforceable recourse through neutral, third party arbitration. Penn has also agreed that issues related to all-gender bathroom accessibility may be discussed at future Labor-Management meetings between Penn admin and unionized graduate workers.
After much resistance from the university on the issues of protected classes and bathroom equity, we are celebrating a tentative agreement that will protect the rights of workers in the midst of the Trump administration’s attacks on such protections in higher education!
During yesterday’s session:
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We reached a tentative agreement on Prohibition Against Unlawful Discrimination and Harassment.
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Graduate workers passed back a package proposal on Union Security and Management Rights and Appointments
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Penn admin passed counterproposals on Union Rights and Appointments.
It is no coincidence that we won this major article just after our largest public action yet: our picket last week, in which over 500 workers gathered to demand a fair contract. Let’s keep building the momentum!
Penn admin stated that they would be passing counterproposals economic articles next session on October 28th, from 10:30am-4:30pm at the Inn at Penn. This includes articles that stipulate our compensation and benefits. RSVP here and bring colleagues to pack the bargaining room for this important session!
If you have not yet signed your strike pledge, the time is now. As Penn admin continues stalling negotiations, it is up to us to put pressure on the university so we can win the fair contract we deserve.
In solidarity,
The GETUP-UAW Bargaining Committee
Clara Abbott
Emily Aunins
Peter Bailer
Oishi Bardhan
Caitlin Frazee
Katelyn Friedline
Sam Herrmann
Jimmy Kelliher
Sam Layding
George Lin
Jancarlos Montoya
Clancy Murray
Izzy Navarro
Josh Ofili
Rosie Poku
George Porter
Caleb Scott-Joseph
Guru Shabadi
Anne-Marie Zaccarin