Minutes
Apr. 17th, 2006
Adrianne, Ursula, Sharyn, and Elizabeth were present, joined by Josh Klugman of the working hours study committee (or whatever it's called).
I. Survey
-despite overlap w/GPSO survey, better to send it out now than wait till fall--getting lists again would be difficult, and GPSO didn't send it to everyone, whereas we will send to all grad employees.
Concern about security of results (i.e. who can take it)--current system not perfect, but unlikely to be a problem at this point, given that people won't know about it except from our email. Try to come up with a good solution for future surveys/votes. In order to encrypt survey results, user would get a warning message about security certificates, which can scare people off.
We talked about adding a question about whether they're in favor of grad unionizing, but a) it's too late and b) it might be seen as recruiting, which would tick off the Dean who gave us the list
Josh will go ahead and send out using geo account, as soon as Jeff is done working out the technical issues. Definitely do before finals week.
II. Response to GPSO resolution 06-B, Statement for University Insurance Equity.
We came up with the following statement:
GEO recognizes [this resolution] / [GPSO Resolution 06-B, Statement for University Insurance Equity] as a first step toward better working conditions, improved health and dental benefits, and recognition of our status as employees.
(Anyone who is going to deploy this anywhere, use whichever version makes most sense, depending on whether or not you've introduced the thing in a previous sentence. Not that you're not all intelligent enough to figure that out by yourselves.)
Things to do about this:
-Elizabeth will make sure Jeff knows to put it on the website
-Adrianne will email Paul Rohwer
-Sharyn will compose a brief letter to the editor of the IDS which this sentence will be the center
-Elizabeth will send an email to members & tell them to contact their GPSO reps if willing to help collect signatures for the GPSO's petition
Continue to organize around the issue of health care next fall--need to at least reinstate cuts
III. Future plans: Job action next semester?? One-day walk-out as opposed to long-term strike. Could be about dental or health--or for a raise?
Have to find weaknesses of new plan as it's developed, but technicalities lose people. (We can use these technicalities in one-on-one conversations.)
IV. Potluck: Bryan Park does have a cost to reserve the shelters--probably around $20-$30 but the person I talked to didn't know for sure; I will find out.
V. English steward/Labor committee position
Don't have anyone to run? [not true anymore--Morgan found one person]. Description altered after Adrianne sent it--potential conflict of interest if these folks are conceived of as reporting to dept. admin.--resolve this at GSAC fall forum next semester.