The graduate workers’ strike on the University of Illinois Urbana campus enters its second week today, after talks with a federal mediator Sunday yielded no progress toward an agreement.
Both the U of I and the Graduate Employees’ Organization, or GEO, released statements last night after the talks.
Patrick Kimutis with the GEO’s bargaining team says the university did not propose anything different than in the last session, so the strike will continue.
The university did not address the substance of the negotiations, only saying that they want to continue talks with the GEO. The main sticking point between the two sides continues to be tuition waivers. The GEO wants them guaranteed for all members, both present and future for the life of the contract. The university wants the flexibility to award waivers on a case-by-case basis to future GEO members.
The next mediation session is scheduled for Wednesday.