Organizing Victory at Central Michigan University

Organizing Victory at Central Michigan University The Graduate Assistants have voted 152 to 21 to join AFT Michigan as our newest local. The CMU graduate employees came to AFT Michigan asking to join us, they were well organized and conducted most of the organizing drive on their own. They did a great job. At one point the Dean of Graduate Studies sent out a letter to the graduate employees asking them to "vote no" and explaining why the union would be bad for them. In response we were able to get Gov. Granholm to send the graduate employees a letter highlighting the important role of unions in higher education, and stating that no one should intimidate them on how to vote. Members of the State Senate and House Higher Education Appropriations committees also sent letters in support of their organizing efforts. Special thanks go to Ellen Hoekstra for arranging that letter. Also thanks to Jon Curtiss, AFT Michigan Organizer and Mark Cousens, AFT Michigan attorney for their work on this campaign. Welcome to the Graduate Employees of CMU!