125 UAW members marches on UMass Chancellor Lombardi's house to demnad economic proposals

[Omaha Steve]

http://lnn.laborstart.org/more.php?id=939_0_1_0_M

125 UAW members marches on UMass Chancellor Lombardi's house to demnad economic proposals

One hundred twenty-five members of the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO)/UAW Local 2322 marched to the campus home of Umass Chancellor Lombardi today to highlight the disparity between his recent 39% pay increase and the pay cuts that graduate student employees will be taking in 2007-08.

Amherst, MA—As part of the march, GEO members delivered 250 signed petitions from graduate employees across campus to the Chancellor—the petitions declare support for the following union demands: rolling back mandatory fees, fair and timely raises. equality and accountability in distributing diversity funding and quality childcare and housing.

GEO and the University have been bargaining for 14 weeks. Though the University claimed in January 2007 to want an expedited bargaining process, they have failed to offer any financial package to the Union, nor have they indicated a proposal is forthcoming.

The average graduate student employee will experience a reduction in pay in 2007-08 due to the combination of a 3.4% fee increase and no stipend increases for the work they do.

FULL story at link.