gallery: GEO in sounds, 1996-2002

Over the past 6 years of GEO's decade-long struggle, audio recordings of GEO activities have been broadcast on the Illinois Labor Hour. Here is a compilation, in MP3 format.

• Card Drive Kickoff Montage - in spring 1996, GEO kicked off an authorization card drive after several years of organizing. [2:48] [2.7M]
• Unions Are A Grad's Best Friend - early Viper music! [3:31] [3.4M]
• Tuition Waiver Policy Angers Grads - a proposed change to the tuition waiver policy was met with stiff resistance; faced with pressure by GEO members, the administration dropped many of the proposed changes. [3:52] [3.7M]
• GEO Files Cards - two months after the card drive kickoff, GEO filed 3,226 cards with the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board in petition for a union representatioon election; a supermajority of all TAs, GAs, and RAs at UIUC were demanding union representation. [1:58] [1.9M]
• 1996 Fall Rally - looking towards an upcoming election, GEO members held a rally the fall after we filed cards. [7:49] [7.5M]
• Election Delayed - the UI administration fought the petition, arguing in the courts that graduate employees were students, not workers. This was the beginning of a 5 year legal battle for recognition. [1:50] [1.8M]
• GEO Participates in National Day of Action - Unions across the country voiced their support for grad unionization at UI. [2:57] [2.8M]
• Election Draws Near - with GEO battling UI stall tactics, the Religious Workers Association conducted a union representation election following IELRB rules. [3:23] [3.3M]
• Encouragement from Harvard Trade Union Program Director Elaine Bernard - the '97 election was won on Apr 16 with 64% of the vote, a powerful message to the UI. Nevertheless, the legal battles continued, up through the Illinois courts... [0:41] [0.7M]
• "At 2:50 this afternoon..." - GEO members occupied the UI Board of Trustees' offices in the Henry Administration building. The sit-in lasted 20 hours. [0:25] [0.4M]
• Ultimatum to President Stukel - during the first sit-in, grads demanded that the UI bargain in good faith with the GEO. [4:30] [4.3M]
• One of Our Favorite Chants - "Mr Stukel, don't be a jerk; recognize that teaching's work!" [0:27] [0.5M]
• Ballad of the Henry 55 - Viper song, in honor of the 55 who sat in at Henry. [3:13] [3.1M]
• Libertyville - more Viper. [3:36] [3.5M]
• Second Sit-in - two years after the first sit-in and with no movement by the UI administration, GEO members and supporters occupied the Swanlund Administration building, shutting it down for the day. That afternoon, at 4:30pm on Mar 13, 2002, the UI administration conceeded and agreed to start meeing with GEO to negotiate the composition of a bargaining unit. Direct action works! [1:13] [1.2M]
• Election Results - IELRB agent Elizabeth Gaffney announcing the landslide 1188:347 GEO victory on the night of Dec 5, 2002. [2:08] [2.1M]
• Co-President Borst's Reaction - Allan Borst's elated reaction to the landslide victory. [0:33] [0.5M]
• Co-President Braun's Reaction - Rosemary Braun's elated reaction to the landslide victory. [0:20] [0.3M]

[Credits] Production: Peter Miller (tracks 1-15), Paul Miller (tracks 16-18). Compilation: Peter Miller.