The University of Maine has been negotiating a contract with the UMaine Graduate Workers Union (UMGWU) for over 10 months. There should always be progress made towards reaching a contract, but it is evident that continuing to argue about language in convoluted ways or canceling sessions will delay this progress. The Administration can abstain from delaying further progress by being transparent on their end about delays or the cancellation of meetings. The bargaining for the contract was supposed to take place Sept. 17 and 18 but the Administration canceled one day prior.
Going forward, the Administration needs to uphold a level of integrity and respect to the union they recognized. They can do this by showing up and going through the motions with the union to negotiate a contract in a meaningful way that develops a sense of constant progress.
UMGWU gathered outside Fogler Library to voice their frustrations with the Administration not showing up that week. I was inspired to write this article by the way the speakers articulated their concerns and uplifted the voices of all graduate workers. If you were there, you would have heard, “UMaine works because we work!” It is a simple thing to say, but it strikes just how important you are in the system.
The Administration and graduate workers should be able to come together to negotiate a contract, and I appreciate the transparency that is on the UMGWU website. You can look at the bargaining goals of the union and see proposals such as an increase in access to housing and increased transparency for job appointments and dismissals. I do not understand why UMaine Administration would delay progress for reasonable accommodations and, in my opinion, we should know that progress is happening and that the administration wants to improve the overall conditions of their workers.
Unions are fundamental parts of the history of workers. They represent a progression in history and their victories represent a win for the entire working class. When workers are given the benefits they need and workplaces that they can feel productive in, the community grows in positive directions. There is a long history of unions that you can look to and see what is happening now and what will happen next.
It is time that UMaine expands the rights of the workers who are parents and the workers who rely on the university health insurance. Workers do not deserve to endure lapse in coverage or require payment on a deadline before they even receive the September paycheck. It is time that UMaine expands the quality of life for their highly skilled graduate workers that teach, publish, conduct research and put in the work that UMaine is proud of. The Administration knows how they can improve their conditions. They have heard the workers’ voices and have read their proposals. They must meet at the table consistently and in good faith
