GEO Fundraising Campaign

Keep Grad Labor Strong Post-Janus!

UIUC GEO’s 2018 strike made national news and helped put graduate organizing at the forefront of the labor movement. More recently, the Janus v. AFSCME decision ending fair-share dues, put graduate employee unions onto shifting financial sands. On the anniversary of our first strike, we are launching our first-ever fundraising campaign! We need your continued engagement as we face up to the challenges of the post-Janus labor environment.


Organizing for Access to a Sustainable Education

Amidst the Great Recession, on November 16th, 2009, UIUC GEO members took a bold stand and walked out of their classrooms and workspaces to strike against the university and demand a fair contract that included tuition waiver protection. Other campus unions follow suit over the years as UIUC continued to dig in against its workers. So far, GEO has successfully defended tuition waiver protections through two arbitrations and several other grievances.

GEO's 2018 strike was the longest strike in UIUC history but we won tuition waiver protections, increased wages, and improved healthcare for graduate employees across campus.

As we look to 2020, we move to reopen wage bargaining with UIUC, unionize Research Assistants and Pre-professional Graduate Assistants, and host the annual CGEU Conference to cultivate national and international graduate employee union strength and solidarity. We also aim to keep our solidarity donations and actions strong, supporting other campus and community activists and connecting with others struggling for justice around the globe.

How You Can Help
Join us in reflecting on our history throughout this fundraising campaign.
Share your GEO stories with your friends and colleagues to let them know why the union matters to you. 
Follow us on social media to stay up to date with everything we are working towards!
Donate to our campaign over the next few weeks and help us continue to fight for the rights and benefits that ALL workers deserve!