A judge on Monday again denied a request by the University of Michigan to halt a nearly two-week old strike by its graduate student workers.
The ruling by Washtenaw County Circuit Judge Carol Kuhnke was the second time the university was turned down in its request for a preliminary injunction to end the walkout by members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) AFT Local 3550, which began March 29.
The union is an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and represents almost 2,300 Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) at the University of Michigan.
Judge Kuhnke said the university was able to demonstrate a negative impact from the strike, it had failed to prove the work stoppage was causing “irreparable harm” to the institution.
Judge denies U of M request for order ending grad assistants’ strike
GEO leaders hailed the decision as “a massive victory for graduate workers and working people across the whole state of Michigan.”
“The court upheld workers’ right to strike,” said GEO President Jared Eno. “We’ve been saying all along that the university’s move to use the courts to force workers back on the job was an unjustifiable abuse of the legal system. Today, the court agreed.”
While disappointed in the court’s decision, U of M spokesperson Kim Broekhuizen said the university appreciated the judge’s acknowledgement that the strike was harming students.
“The university remains ready and willing to negotiate,” she said. “In the meantime, our top priority continues to be carrying out the educational mission of this university.”
U of M filed the complaint March 30 alleging the union was in breach of contract for striking despite its agreement not to do so while the current deal, which expires May 1, is in effect.
An additional lawsuit filed by the university in circuit court seeks damages for breach of contract, while both GEO and U of M have unfair labor practice charges pending before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission.
The main sticking point is a union proposal for a 60% wage increase in the first year of a new contract, with additional increases tied to inflation in the second and third years. So far, the GEO has turned down three counteroffers from the university, including an 11.5% pay increase over the next three years.
Follow-up bargaining sessions between the two sides are scheduled through the remainder of the week.
Meanwhile, the Senate Advisory Committee on University Affairs (SACUA) issued a statement Monday calling for a quick reconciliation between the administration and GEO, but adding that it supports “fair wages and fair negotiation.”
“We are concerned with the university’s request for an injunction and its potential negative impact on the university community,” read the statement. “We value both the well-being of all our students and the strength and vitality of the University of Michigan.”
SACUA is the executive arm of the university’s Faculty Senate and the Senate Assembly.
authored by Jon King
First published at https%3A%2F%2Fmichiganadvance.com%2F2023%2F04%2F11%2Fjudge-again-rejects-u-of-m-request-to-halt-strike-by-graduate-workers%2F
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