Coalition of Graduate Employees

Our first real bargaining session for the 2010 reopener is coming up on Friday, February 12. It’ll be from 2-5:00 in the large meeting room in the Westminster House (not the MU; note the location change).

At this session, we’ll be letting the OSU administration know which articles we plan to open this year, and they will then do the same. Afterwords, we’ll begin to lay out the context of bargaining as we see it this year, which is the basis upon which we’ll make and fight for our proposals.

This will be an interesting session, and afterwards we hope to have an idea what OSU is thinking. We could definitely use your support, so come out for all or part of the session if you can make it. You can even bring homework to do or papers to grade.

CGE and OSU have scheduled three bargaining sessions for the remainder of this term:

• 2-5 PM, Friday, February 12th, 2010, in Westminster House
• 3-5 PM, Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010, in MU Council Room
• 2-4 PM, Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010, in Westminster House

Westminster House is the building that houses the CGE office.  Directions can be found here.

All graduate employees are encouraged to observe bargaining sessions.  More information is forthcoming, but as of right now, the first session is the one you’re going to want to be at.

Update 12/9/2009: The bargaining platform has been approved, with a vote of 98 for to 2 against.

11/19/2009: The CGE bargaining team has completed its work drafting our 2009-10 bargaining platform.  This platform broadly outlines our goals going into negotiations this year as well as our rationale behind them.  You can download a copy below.

• CGE 2009-10 Bargaining Platform

Approval of this platform is pending a vote by the CGE membership.  This vote will be held online and will be open until December 4.  You can access the voting site through the following URL:

• http://www.surveygizmo.com/s/208700/cge-2009-10-bargaining-platform-vote

Voting is open to CGE members only.  If you are a current CGE member, you will be emailed a unique ID to use to identify yourself as a member on the voting website.  While each member’s ID is unique, they will not be associated with members’ names, so your vote will remain anonymous.

Please feel free to use the comment section of this post as a forum to discuss the platform online.  You can also contact CGE directly with any questions you have.

Results of the vote will be published at cge6069.org when the polls close on December 4.

On Thursday, July 30th at 6 PM, all CGE members and their families are invited to Avery Park’s Maple Grove Shelter for a summer BBQ.  We’ll be providing some food, but you’ll have to provide the rest, as well as the drinks.  And if you have a game to play – a frisbee, croquet set, etc. – bring that too!

See our Facebook page or check your email for more information.  And, of course, you can RSVP or ask questions by emailing unite@cge6069.org or calling 541-757-7141.

A map to the shelter is available here.

The General Membership Meeting this term is going to be Thursday, April 23rd at 5:30 PM at the Chintimini Senior Center on the corner of 26th and Tyler.

Agenda items include officer elections for the 2009-2010 school year, officer and Convention delegate reports, the 09-10 budget, and more.

CGE officer positions are flexible and overlap as needed. However, certain positions have primary responsibility for certain areas.  If you are considering running and have questions, please contact the relevant officer at the email address listed.  General inquiries can be sent to unite@cge6069.org.

President: Chairs Executive Council meetings, represents the CGE to other unions and to OSU, participates in AFT and AFT-OR business. Often serves on bargaining team.  president@cge6069.org

Secretary-Treasurer: Keeps the union’s records and oversees the union’s day-to-day business routine. Reports on the union’s financial status to the membership and to AFT. Works with the Business Manager. treasurer@cge6069.org

Vice-President for Collective Bargaining: Chairs or co-Chairs bargaining team as necessary; handles grievances; generally responsible for contract administration and implementation. vp_bargaining@cge6069.org

Vice-President for Communications: Responsible for creation and publication of the newsletter; can be responsible for the majority of communications CGE sends to members and outside organizations. vp_communications@cge6069.org

Vice-President for Organizing: Oversees membership orientation and recruitment, Rep structure, and member benefits. Works with Staff Organizer.  vp_organizing@cge6069.org

There’ll also be plenty of food and drink for all who attend (as long as you RSVP). Hope to see you there!

(See below the fold for a map and directions to the senior center.)

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