The FSU administration doesn’t care about you.
Happy 4th of July weekend everyone, sorry to be the bearer of bad news. But why do I say this?
Right now FSU's bargaining team has 19 articles out with them. These are Articles that WE have proposed changes on and are now waiting for FSU to give us a response. We, by comparison, have 4 articles with us. 2 of those are effectively TA'd (agreed upon), we're just waiting to OFFICIALLY TA them once we come to an agreement on a different article. 1 of them is the sexual harassment article, which was an absurd and insulting response from FSU’s team. Of these 19 articles out with FSU, 7 of these have been with them for well over a month. On Tuesday, that number will increase to 13 if they do not have a response for any of these.
Most egregious of all is our Discipline article. We are trying to protect GAs from retaliation, unfair and disproportionate disciplinary procedures, amongst other problems, and FSU administration apparently hasn't thought about it for 3 months.
What exactly has the FSU administration been doing for the last 3 months?
Impact Statements
How can we make them care, you ask? Impact statements are one of the most effective ways you as an individual can CHANGE the status quo. If FSU’s administration believes their current harassment policies work, or that unfair discipline practices aren’t IMPORTANT enough to give a response on, we need to MAKE them care. Your story can do that. If you have a story about harassment, discrimination, bullying, a mentally unsafe work environment, unfair discipline, retaliation, &c., please reach out to bargaining@fsugau.org. You can be anonymous, only Chief Negotiator Vincenza Berardo sees that inbox. When the administration expresses its confidence in FSU’s current harassment procedures, it is unfortunately down to us to share our stories and illuminate exactly how sorely FSU has failed its graduate assistants. We can help raise your voice up and make sure you’re HEARD by the FSU administration.
Watch on Facebook
Want to see an example of some incredible impact statements your fellow GAs have given in the past? Check out our Facebook videos where we have story after story from GAs about their own encounters with harassment, leave, overwork, and more.
Bargaining Session #8
Bargaining Session #8 is TOMORROW, July 6th, 1:30-4:30PM. We’ll be available in our “caucus room” for 30 minutes before bargaining this Tuesday. There, we will go over the articles we’re presenting in more detail with you, so we can receive feedback from YOU, the members. We want to make sure we are representing YOUR concerns, priorities, and demands. So come to caucus at 1:30PM to make your voice heard, and then we will head over to the “main” bargaining room at 2:00PM to present those demands to the FSU administration! Looking forward to seeing you all there. Remember: united we bargain, divided we beg!
In Solidarity, Vincenza Antonetta Berardo Chief Negotiator & Bargaining Chair