Graduate Assistant Advisory Council
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Wednesday Wisdom Series

Update on Collective Bargaining Bill

Graduate Assistant Advisory Council May 24, 2023 at 12:34 PM
Dear Graduate Assistants, 

As we celebrate this special day of your graduation, we want to congratulate each and every one of you. We could not be prouder of this incredible achievement. You did it!!! 

We would like to give you an update on the Collective Bargaining Bill.
  1. In February, GSA's Legislative Concerns Chair Zane Poffenberger testified in favor on behalf of the GSA. See the text of his testimony here.
  2. However, HB 0275SB 0247 State Personnel - Collective Bargaining - Faculty, Part-Time Faculty, and Graduate Assistants did not make it out of the Senate Finance committee during this past legislative session.
  3. On 9 May 2023, UMD's AAUP (American Association of University Professors) sent out an update. Their efforts now are to grow the coalition working toward future passage of this bill. They also reported what the coalition accomplished this year:
    1. Four dozen faculty and graduate students came out on a Lobby Night in Annapolis.
    2. 2,400 signatures on a petition for collective bargaining and living wages.
    3. More than 4,500 phone calls and emails to legislators! Some legislators called back immediately to offer support.
    4. More than thirty colleagues took the time to collect over 600 supportive postcards from constituents of Senate President Bill Ferguson (D) and Senate Finance Chair Melony Griffith (D).
    5. Radio and podcast appearances, op eds, and even an impactful interview in the Chronicle of Higher Education.
    6. Over 150 faculty and graduate students took time to submit oral and written testimony to the Senate and House Committees.
  4. They advise:
    1. Send an email to Senate President Bill Bill Ferguson and Senate Finance Committee ChairMelony Griffith. Ask why they did not bring our bill to a vote. Encourage them to do so next year.
    2. Mobilize early next Fall.
      1. Show up to rallies and meetings in Annapolis.
      2. Sign up to canvas in Ferguson and Griffith's districts and to collect constituent signatures.
    3. To receive their updates yourself,sign up here.
  5. GSA's Vice President-elect, Jessica Burstrem, was invited to join a panel on collective bargaining with Morgan State University's Professor of Communication and Africana Studies Jared Balland UMBC's GWST Lecturer Kate Drabinski, moderated by Max Alvarez, the author of the Chronicle article linked above. This panel will take place at Red Emma's Bookstore Coffeehouse, 3128 Greenmount Ave, Baltimore, MD 21218, on Thursday, September 28 at 7PM. Save the date, and look for more information soon!

With this post we wrap up the Wednesday Wisdom series for the semester. We hope these insights have been beneficial in navigating your journey at UMBC. 

We would really appreciate your feedback on our Wednesday Wisdom series. You can email us at gaac@umbc.edu.

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