GEO Threatens To Sue U

The Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) is threatening suit against the University for refusing to deliver an eight percent pay hike promised last spring.

Last week the teaching fellow-research assistant organization filed an unfair labor practice charge with the Michigan Employment Relations Commission (MERC).

According to the promise, which came from former Vice President for Academic Affairs Allan Smith in February, was made before the union was recognized and therefore doesn't count.

GEO claims that in offering the 8% hike to discourage organizing last spring, and then failing to perform , the University is breaking the law. The University says it can't grant the pay increase because it doesn't know what other economic demands GEO will make.

Although it's still in the process of being formulated, the GEO package is expected to include free tuition for all teaching fellows.