Graduate Assistants win voice with UPI

By Heather Shaffer - Editor in Chief

Graduate assistants could be seen trickling in and out of Conference Room E last Wednesday as they voted “yes” or “no” for union representation at UIS. It may have been a silent ballot, but the victory party to follow surely was not.
In a 40-1 vote, grad assistants decided to organize under the University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 and to finally have a voice of solidarity on campus.
UPI currently represents 3,000 employees at seven Illinois universities – from clerical, technical and service workers to graduate and teacher’s assistants – and is already representing 150 staff members at UIS. But before last week, our university’s GAs had no potential bargaining power.
There are nine members of the Organizing Committee for the Association of Graduate Employees/UPI on campus: Melanie England, Alissa Manzoeillo, Ryan Morrison, Leslie Rossman, Vera Leopold, Liz Moran, Renee Redfield, Alanna Sablotny and Evan Wilson. These are the graduates who encouraged other GAs to cast their ballot at the March 1 election and who put union talks into action.
The AGE/UPI brochure, distributed by the Organizing Committee, explained why grad assistants should commit to unionizing. The information sheet set out three main objectives for would-be union members to consider: Higher wages, better health care and a united voice.
Evan Wilson, graduate assistant for the Innocence Project, said these objectives are just the essentials. “We have very basic health care that isn’t adequate for most grad assistants,” Wilson said, “and we are making less than the other U of I campuses.”
As the commitment brochure pointed out, graduate employees at UIUC receive $4,000 more a year than UIS grads, and are doing the same work. Organizing under a union, said the Springfield GAs, would allow bargaining for similar compensation.
Perhaps more fundamental is the aspect of health care. As the Illinois Federation of Teachers field representative Dave Kamper explained, the average age of a graduate assistant is 32. Presently, GAs at our university are covered only by the basic student health insurance, which does not include provisions for families or special medical conditions, prescriptions etc. Grad employees want to bargain for a new health care plan that goes beyond typical undergrad coverage, to fit the needs of their dynamic group.
Before IFT representative Kamper heard of the grads’ dilemma, he said the group had already began organizing possible union options. “They did all of this themselves; they did all of the work. I’m just here to answer questions if they have any.” And their camaraderie seems to have paid off as, the GA for International Studies Liz Moran said, they hope to begin bargaining this spring.
  Before the final votes were tallied Moran said, “I expect that we are going to win by a majority and we certainly hope that within the next month or so we will start negotiating.” As her prediction unfolded, the majority was indeed achieved at the election last week and GAs are eager to begin negotiation.
“We are excited that all of our organizing paid off and that we have the chance to improve our campus,” said Vera Leopold, representing the Center for State Policy and Leadership. Leopold said the Organizing Committee had been busy for about eight weeks spreading the union word and bringing awareness to other GAs. But, as Liz Moran made clear, students in the grad assistantship program have been attempting unification for over year. This group of organized grads made it happen.
The world of union acronyms, affiliations and chapters can get confusing; but here is a short breakdown.  UPI is a chapter of the Illinois Federation of Teachers. The UPI, hence the name, focuses on the union representation of higher education in Illinois. Both of these sub-chapters are supported by the larger scoped union of the AMERICAN Federation of Teachers, which has 1.3 million members nation-wide.
In upcoming negotiations, the UPI representatives, graduate employees and administration will also decide who will be considered a union member. Teacher Assistants and Resident Assistants who carry the same workload as GAs may be eligible to negotiate as well. At the election, an RA or TA could fill out a “challenge ballot” saying they deserved union representation as well.
The university’s graduate employees will be able to address the administration with concerns they may have, to ensure competitive wages and fair benefits, in proceeding negotiations. This group of students is separate from the existing seven staff unions at UIS, and has their work cut out for them as the first unionized GAs on campus.

Raising money to fight cancer

By Ashley Rook - General Assignment Reporter

  Within a lifetime, one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer.  For the many people who are still fighting, have survived or have lost someone from cancer, the American Cancer Society Relay For Life of Springfield Colleges, which will be held from March 31-April 1, is an opportunity to celebrate cancer survivors and raise money for cancer research and programs.
Relay for Life began in 1985 when Dr. Gordy Klatt, a colorectal surgeon from Tacoma, Wash., wanted to increase the donations of his local American Cancer Society Office.  He enlisted his friends and family to sponsor him while he circled a track for 12 hours and raised $27,000 for the fight against cancer.  Since then, Relay for Life has become an international event that is held in over 20 countries and the signature event of the American Cancer Society.
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Springfield Colleges includes participants from the UIS, Lincoln Land Community College and Robert Morris College.  The relay is comprised of teams, which include the Big Kahunas, College Republicans, LLCC Honors & Circle K, Pat's Pirates, Rogue Productions, Schwalb, The Gamblers, The Ragamuffins, Twosouth, UIS Housing Survivor Tribe, UIS Lambda Pi Eta and UIS Student Government Association.  Each group has done their own fundraising, using bake sales, singing telegrams and donations from family and friends to raise money for the event.
Alisha Backus, a sophomore criminal justice major, is the Survivor Reception Chair and Entertainment Chair for the event, and has previously participated in Relay for Life events.  “I have always had a wonderful experience participating in the relay for life.  I walk every year in honor of my grandmother who passed away from cancer.  The event brings together people of all walks of life to unite for a great cause,” she said.  “The memories that are made with the people over night are ones that you will always cherish, and to be part of planning the first college relay means a lot to me personally.”
Jeff Meyer, a sophomore business management major, also has a personal commitment to the relay.  He is a member of Pat’s Pirates, named for his mother, who passed away from cancer last year. 
“The people on my team have never met my mother, but when we were choosing a name, a friend of mine suggested that ‘Pat's Pirates’ be our name. Having friends that have known you less than a year that are actually saying they are willing to dedicate their team to my mother means something extraordinary,” he said. “Watching my mom, I have learned what bravery and strength are. I know that every cancer survivor is one of the bravest people on this planet.”   
The event, which will be held in the Lincoln Land Community College parking lot, will begin at 6 p.m. on March 31 and end at 6 a.m. on April 1.  The opening ceremony will kick-off the relay, followed by the survivor reception and the laps will be themed every 30 minutes.  Live entertainment such as Chicago-based The Translation and Springfield-based bands The Red Dress and No One of Consequence will be playing free shows all night.  The luminaria ceremony, which will be held in honor of people who have survived or died from cancer, will be held at 10 p.m.
The American Cancer Society Relay for Life of Springfield Colleges’ registration is still open for any students who would still like to form a team and participate.  Donations can be made online to relay teams at www.acsevents.org/relay/il/springfieldcolleges. 

Graduate Assistants win voice with UPI

Raising money to fight cancer