GEO (Graduate Employee Organization) and UMass reach contract agreement

[Bill McBlueState]

GEO and UMass reach contract agreement

May 12, 2005

Negotiators reached a tentative contract agreement yesterday between the Graduate Employee Organization and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The deal was reached in time to stop a picket of tonight's inauguration of UMass President Jack Wilson, which will feature U.S. Sen. Ted Kennedy as the guest of honor.

The contract agreement is expected to be announced today by GEO and the University in a joint statement. Although details of the agreement are not clear, the two sides had been at odds for more than a year in a dispute over graduate student pay, health benefits, childcare and workload.

The timing of the agreement avoids a potential embarrassment for President Wilson, whose inauguration is set for 7 p.m. tonight at a "UMass Night at the Pops," which will feature the Boston Pops Orchestra at Symphony Hall, Boston.

...

Officials at Kennedy's office confirmed that if the picket were to occur, the senior U.S. Senator from Massachusetts would not cross the picket line.

full story at http://www.dailycollegian.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/05/12/4282c1282f150