Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) Negotiations
The collective bargaining agreement between the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) IFT/AFT 6300 and the University will expire August 15, 2026. Negotiations for a successor agreement began on April 6, 2026.
First Bargaining Session Recap – April 6th, 2026
On April 6, 2026, the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) and the University held their initial negotiation session at the Illini Union to begin the process of negotiating a successor agreement. The session lasted three (3) hours and began with introductions of the negotiators and bargaining committee members for both parties.
Following introductions, the University presented its proposed ground rules for negotiations. The University explained that while many of the proposed ground rules are similar to those agreed upon during prior negotiations, some differences reflect the fact that the previous negotiations occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After the ground rules were presented, the GEO began an overview of its initial two (2)-year contract proposal. The GEO requested that the University limit its questions to clarifying questions until the GEO had completed presentation of the proposal in its entirety.
The GEO’s initial contract proposal included the following economic proposals: salary minimums of $27,380 for a nine-month, 50% appointment for year one (1), and $30,250 for year two (2); a proposed six percent (6%) wage increase in year one (1) and a greater of two percent (2%) or the campus wage program increase in year two (2) for reappointed assistants; a waiver of all student fees; elimination of the ninety-one (91) day rule for tuition waivers; University payment of one hundred percent (100%) of the premium cost for individual and dependent health insurance; a summer stipend for assistants regardless of whether they hold a summer assistantship; a $500 monthly childcare stipend; a stipend to offset tax withholdings related to tuition waivers; and establishment of an International Graduate Worker Assistance Fund with a minimum annual allocation of $1,000,000 for each year of the agreement.
The GEO’s initial proposal also included several non-economic proposals, including additional employee rights and procedures related to the University’s handling of interactions with federal immigration authorities. These proposals would require the University to notify the GEO of certain interactions between assistants and immigration or law enforcement authorities. The GEO also proposed language intended to ensure compliance with relevant laboratory standards and to establish safety standards for non-laboratory and fieldwork environments. Additional proposals sought to ensure academic freedom and intellectual property as contractual rights of employment. The GEO also proposed changes to disciplinary procedures and revisions to the definition of hours of work for assistants, including the requirement that assistants receive set schedules defined in their Notices of Appointment.
After the GEO completed its presentation, the parties discussed potential dates for the next bargaining session, tentatively identifying April 21 or April 23. The GEO asked whether the University would present its proposal at the next meeting. The University stated that, at the next session, it intends to ask more in-depth questions regarding the GEO’s initial proposal and expects to present its non-economic proposals at the third bargaining session. The GEO indicated that it would review the University’s proposed ground rules prior to the next meeting. The session then concluded.