Sign the Fall 2022 Contract Duress Statement
What should I do about my Fall 2022 contract?
- Sign your Fall contract, so as to prevent a lapse in pay.
- Sign the Fall 2022 Contract Duress Statement, indicating that you are signing your fall contract under duress and do not agree with its terms. The Statement and signatories will be posted on the Indiana Graduate Workers website, and, for every 50 signers, emailed to President Whitten and Provost Shrivastav.
What are the changes in this year’s contract?
Graduate workers at IU Bloomington are being required to sign a new SAA Contract (College of Arts and Sciences students are also being required to sign a Supervisory Agreement) for the coming year. Changes include new requirements that advisors surveil and manage (rather than mentor) SAAs, and requirements that SAAs use Canvas for maintaining students’ academic records. These tactics directly attack graduate workers’ ability to participate in collective labor actions, and create additional, unpaid labor for faculty and staff.
Is this contract enforceable?
The right to collective action and labor strikes is protected by both Indiana and federal law. Logistically, the IGWC-UE also believes these contracts to be unenforceable. Faculty have overwhelmingly and democratically endorsed both our union and our labor organizing. Frankly, faculty and staff also have far more important things to do that actually serve the mission of Indiana University, rather than participate in the IU Administration’s anti-union campaign. Furthermore, as employees, we were not given any opportunity to have input into the terms of the agreement, and are signing these contracts under duress.
What is the petition?
The petition clearly states that you signed your Fall SAA contract under the following conditions:
- You were not provided freedom of voluntary consent to sign the Individual Contract for Student Academic Appointees (SAA Contract) and (if applicable) the Support and Supervision of Student Academic Appointees in the College of Arts and Sciences document.
- That your chosen representative, the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition - UE, was not offered the opportunity to discuss or negotiate the content of the SAA Contract and - Support and Supervision document with any IU Administrator.
- That, as a result, you were required to sign the document as a condition of employment.
- That you do not hold this to be a valid contract entered into freely by two parties. Rather, that you signed the document/s—the terms of which you disagree with—under duress. The principle reason for this duress is the University’s continuing refusal to bargain with our designated representative, the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition - UE.
Why should I sign the petition?
Signing the petition is important for several reasons. First, this petition may come up in the event of a court case surrounding our Fall 2022 contracts. Second, this petition is an important act of solidarity, it reminds IU that we have solidarity and collective action, regardless of the opinions of a few upper-level administrators. Our protection is the collective action of our strike.
What can my department do?
If SAAs in your department decide to all collectively refuse to sign and are confident you cannot be replaced, the IGWC-UE endorses that action. Please reach out to the IGWC-UE and your Union Representatives if you plan to take this action.
If you are in a supportive departments but unable to refuse to sign collectively, the IGWC-UE has written a letter that members and faculty members can sign together expressing opposition to the contract. Please reach out to the IGWC-UE and your Union Representatives if you plan to take this action.
How should I approach the Fall semester?
Approach this semester just like we approached the Spring 2022 semester. Keep in communication with your Union Representative, attend General Assembly and departmental IGWC-UE meetings.