Graduate students at UMass-Amherst say no contract, no peace

[Bill McBlueState]

Graduate students say no contract, no peace
Build largest march and rally in years

By Bryan G. Pfeifer

AMHERST, MA – Facing multi-faceted assaults by the administration and its class allies, students and progressive campus community members realizing the historic importance and national implications of this struggle, responded March 31 with one of the largest mass action in years.

Over 600 students-graduate and undergraduate-union allies and campus community members answered the call of the Graduate Employee Organization, UAW Local 2322 for a "March for fair wages, healthcare, benefits and childcare," in response to the administration’s refusal to bargain in good faith.

"It’s increasingly clear that the concessions demanded by the University in negotiations are ideological and not driven by a need to cut costs. We’re talking about sums that represent less than 1/1000th of the University’s budget. There will be no peace until we get a contract," said Meghan E. McDonough, GEO Family Issues Advocate, speaking on the steps of the Student Union while holding her infant daughter.

GEO, with a membership of 2,400, has been working without a contact since July 1, 2004 and has been bargaining with the administration for over a year. Other campus unions are in similar circumstances. The administration, despite movement by GEO, continues to propose real wage and healthcare cuts, the abolishment of healthcare benefits for currently covered same-sex couples, and drastic increases in childcare costs.

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