Culminating nearly a decade of organizing efforts, graduate employees at the University of Illinois-Chicago on April 5 filed cards with the Illinois Education Labor Relations Board for union recognition. Leaders of the Graduate Employees' Organization (GEO) filed cards signed by over half of the 1,100 graduate assistants and teaching assistants at UIC. The GEO leaders then marched to the James R. Thompson Center plaza for a rally celebrating the achievement.

"Throughout this long struggle, we never gave up hope and never lost our focus on the ultimate goal--union recognition for graduate employees," said GEO co-president Kat McKellan. "By signing cards, the majority of graduate assistants and teaching assistants at the University of Illinois-Chicago said they want to be represented by the GEO. We stand ready to begin representing the men and women who play such an important role at UIC."

The GEO is the largest unit to be recognized under card check legislation signed into law in 2003 by Gov. Rod Blagojevich, notes Illinois Federation of Teachers' president Jim Dougherty. "The IFT lobbied for the card check bill because it was the most efficient, cost-effective way to recognize union affiliation once a majority of members said they want representation," said Dougherty. "We are proud to have supported that legislation, and proud to have supported GEO. We welcome them into our union."

The Graduate Employees' Organization, an affiliate of the Illinois Federation of Teachers, is made of up graduate assistants and teaching assistants. These employees teach nearly half of the interim classes at UIC. [Gail Purkey/IFT]

[April 12, 2004]