Additional flyer sticker not dated to the 1990 or 1991 strike. Demonstrates the variety of messages used by GEO over the years, and the need to garner public support around the university.
This sticker is incteresting because it simply says GEO is a union. This is likely from GEO’s early days and was desgined to push back on the idea that GEO is unnecessary or less of a union because it represents academic workers.
An undated poster proclaiming “Serfs at Work”, referring to the unpleasant and unfree working conditions of graduate students. The bright color indicates this was likely meant to be hung, perhaps outside graduate offices during a tense negotiation.
United Academic Workers
Sections from an early 2000’s flyer entitled “United Academic Workers” published by the UAW. Demonstrates an effort to rebrand away from just autoworkers, suggesting an appeal towards a professional class and away from a more typical image of the working class.
Cover of a pamphlet from the UAW trying to rebrand as the “united Academic Workers.’ Highlights union politics around what the main purpose of the union is, and tension between professional and industrial workers.
List of schools represented by the UAW, likely from the early 2000’s, demonstrating the success UAW had in organizing graduate unions during the 1990’s.
2004 Victory
The following newspaper clip comes from 2004, when GEO was successful in repealing the international student fee. Interestingly, this time period is generally considered be a low point in graduate organizing nationally and at UMass. No additional archival materials related to this campaign could be accessed due to COVID-19.
2004 Newspaper article about GEO’s successful fight against the international student fee. The rights of international students remain a huge issue in graduate student unions today.
