In a bittersweet, emotional moment for graduate students
instructors, the Graduate Employees Organization overwhelmingly
voted last night to settle an issue with the University over health
care premiums. Under the deal, about 90 percent of GSIs will now
pay the same rates they paid before.

Due to a twofold increase in health care expenditures over the
past decade, Provost Paul Courant decided in April that all
University employees, including GSIs, would pay 5 percent of
insurance premiums for 2004. GEO filed a grievance last month,
citing contract violations. After threats of a grade strike or
walkout, both sides finalized an agreement yesterday, which allows
the choice of using one health care option with stable
premiums.

The plan, GradCare, is used by the vast majority of graduate
students, according to GEO President David Dobbie. The agreement,
which GEO members approved by a margin of 115-3 last night, keeps
GradCare monthly premiums free for all GSIs with one or no
dependents, and keep premiums at $20 for those with two or more
dependents.

About 10 percent of GSIs have two or more dependents, GEO
said.

While GEO members seemed happy that one plan was kept free, some
said they wish they could have succeeded with all the insurance
plans GSIs are being offered.

“We shouldn’t be happy with this offer, but we
should take it,” Dobbie said, adding that it was a good deal
for GSIs. “I think this is the pragmatic choice for this
union to make.”

University spokeswoman Julie Peterson said she was very happy
that both sides came to an agreement.

“This settlement is really good for both our students and
our University,” Peterson said, noting the rising
expenditures for the University.

Last Thursday, GEO decided by a vote of 195-15 not to strike and
to return to the bargaining table with the University. Yesterday
afternoon, both sides managed to work out the final deal.

The University will give the GSIs that do not use GradCare two
weeks starting Monday to switch over from their other plan if they
so desire.

The final clause of the agreement said this deal should not be
viewed as a precedent for either side in regard to future
negotiations, especially since GEO’s current contract expires
Feb. 1, 2005.

Peterson said she could not speculate what would have happened
if GEO rejected the agreement. But Dobbie acknowledged that he was
worried about the possibility of further negotiations, or worst, a
strike.

“The risks associated with pushing that kind of strategy
outweigh what we can get,” Dobbie said.

“I think that it’s a reasonable process considering
all the University is going through (financially),” history
GSI Andrew Goss said.

Geological sciences GSI Erika Carter also said she was pleased
with the outcome, although she is a little worried about her
colleagues who might need to take a plan beside GradCare for other
reasons.

“It’s not the best deal for all of our
members,” Carter said. “(But) I’m glad we made
the decision that we did.”

But several GSIs noted that the prominent reasons for choosing
another plan were settled by the agreement, including a new clause
in GradCare, which covers maternity leave for GSIs outside Ann
Arbor at the time of their child’s birth.

Without a full victory, members raised concerns at the meeting
that the agreement would put them in a weak position in next
year’s contract negotiations. But there was a consensus among
most people that if GEO rallied and stood together next year like
they did in the last few weeks, contract talks should go relatively
smoothly.

“I don’t think this sets a precedent,” Goss
said.

Dobbie added that GEO needs to work hard during the next year to
come in with a strong platform once negotiations start.