Date: Thu, 17 Jul 1997 11:06:34 -0500 (CDT)
From: Dennis Grammenos <dgrammen-AT-prairienet.org>
Subject: M-G: U. of Illinois GEO Press Release 17 July 1997



Graduate Employees' Organization
1001 S. Wright St., Champaign, IL  61820
Campus Mail:  MC-390     
Phone: (217) 344-8283     Fax: (217) 344-8281
http://www.uiuc.edu/ph/www/taunion
_________________________________________________


News Release from the G.E.O.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 17, 1997

Contact: 
Dennis Grammenos; Treasurer, GEO; (217) 367-9144 
Ed Hertenstein; Co-president, GEO; (217) 328-5977
	      

Visiting Steelworkers Support Graduate EmployeesU Unionization

URBANA - More than 200 rank-and-file members of the United Steelworkers 
of America have been in town this week to participate in a labor 
education program held at the University of Illinois.  An unexpected part 
of their education has been the discovery that the very university that 
has been playing host to them has been fighting the unionization of its 
graduate employees.

GEO members distributed flyers to the steelworkers this week informing 
them of the graduate employeesU drive to unionize.  The flyer read in 
part: "We want you to know about the hypocrisy of this university that 
collects funding to host a labor education program while, at the same 
time, it spends taxpayers' money to destroy [graduate employees'] 
democratic right to a union."

Many of the steelworkers have contacted the office of chancellor Michael 
Aiken to express their dismay at what they termed "the administrationUs 
union-busting tactics" and to call for the recognition of the GEO.  
Steelworker Kat Dukes explained that she called Aiken's office and simply 
demanded that the administration stop playing "silly games," referring to 
the administrationUs insistence that graduate employees are just students 
and not employees.  "Graduate employees carry the weight of the 
university on their shoulders and the administration should recognize 
their right to unionize," she said.  "Is this or is this not America?" 
she asked.  Charles Dale, another steelworker, expressed his surprise at 
what he called Rthe ludicrous hypocrisyS of the university.  RRecognize 
the GEO," was his message for chancellor Aiken.  "Graduate employees keep 
this university going and they deserve fair treatment," he added.

"Uplifting," was the word used by GEO member Dennis Grammenos to 
characterized the outpouring of support from the steelworkers.  "Graduate 
employees are grateful for the solidarity shown by the steelworkers.  We 
had many who asked for extra flyers to take back to the steelmills to 
distribute to fellow union workers, folks who are parents and tax-payers" 
he said.    

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