Dear Members,

To get things started, management trotted in a University executive who bemoaned the University’s financial problems. Interesting, since last time we checked the University’s tax returns, UChicago can afford to pay the fat cats at the top $3-5 million per year! 

It’s such an interesting coincidence that the UChicago administration has started running a campaign where it pretends that it is poor right at the same time that GSU, non-tenured instructional faculty, nurses and facilities workers on campus are also negotiating contracts for better pay and conditions! Tell me, dear coworker: do you think that the value of a University is determined more by the quality of its research, teaching, healthcare services, and operations…or by the size of its executive staff and their investment portfolio? 

To add insult to injury, the administration continues to refuse to bargain over teaching because it isn’t a “working condition” but an “academic requirement.” Their position remains that because we’re “students,” if we teach beyond program requirements, we don’t deserve to get paid.

Management even admitted they hold a double-standard: if instructional staff and faculty teach extra courses, they get paid for it. Imagine that! But it’s inconceivable that graduate workers should deserve the same. The math is not mathing.

One (dim) bright spot: UChicago offered us 25% coverage of its dental plan. We can all get ¼ of our mouths cleaned! They also nixed healthcare for children and dependents, proposed pocket change for visa fees, and lost it over our reasonable commitment to a $45k minimum stipend, calling it “insulting.” Sigh…

But not all is lost, dear members! We are in such a strong position to bring this thing home. Despite dragging their feet, they are moving. And after this week’s General Membership Meeting, over ninety (90!) members signed up for our current organizer training. Our job is to make it clear to management that they are bargaining with 3000+ workers at the bargaining table.

One final announcement: On Monday, January 15th, UChicago Medicine nurses (NNU) will be holding an informational picket from 7:30 - 9:00AM at the DCAM Circle (58th and Maryland). If you can stop by briefly around 8AM, they have invited us to show support for their press conference. 

Tl:dr :: UChicago doesn’t want to give YOU the pay and benefits you deserve. 

That’s unfortunate, because UChicago only works if we do… 😎😎😎

Signed,

Your Bargaining Committee