The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition Coordinating Committee recommended to members Friday that they vote “no” on their upcoming vote to strike this Sunday. Still, they recommended granting the committee authority to set a future strike deadline should negotiations with the Bloomington Faculty Council or University Graduate School fail.
? IGWC-UE Coordinating Committee (CC) recommends voting No on strike authorization, and Yes on giving the CC the ability to set a later strike date, should ongoing negotiations with the Bloomington Faculty Council and the University Graduate School fail. Full statement: pic.twitter.com/4FwXBDiWrY — Indiana Grad Workers Coalition - UE⚡️ (@IndianaGrads) September 23, 2022
The coalition had set a strike vote for the fall, demanding certain quality of life concessions from the university as well as official recognition from the trustees. The university announced increased pay stipends, an end to mandatory fees, and an improved grievance process for graduate workers, which it said was the result of recommendations by the provost’s Task Force on Graduate Education, a group of faculty and PhD students unaffiliated with the union.
We’re taking substantive action to create the best possible graduate student and SAA experience at IU. We have committed to long-term and permanent improvements to ensure graduate education at IU thrives for years to come. https://t.co/KSdEl0vuvS pic.twitter.com/fIQKzV8zpo — IU Provost (@IUBProvost) September 20, 2022
In its statement, the IGWC Coordinating Committee said that while it insists union recognition is the only path forward, many of its demands have already been met. The committee said that these gains were the result of organizing, and good faith negotiations are ongoing. The committee said it hopes for partial recognition by the end of the semester.
A vote on whether to strike will still be held Sunday, and hundreds of union members have pledged to strike for two weeks if a “yes” vote prevails.
