February 6, 2026: Grad workers react to HR slamming door on our faces—but we make progress regardless

This week, we arrived at the bargaining table prepared to discuss campus safety and our “ICE-out” proposals, just as we were prepared to present salary proposals last week. However, HR reiterated their position that they would not meet with us. They did not offer any rationale at the time. In response, we silently marched to HR’s room. When we knocked, an HR representative opened the door only to shut the door on us immediately without hearing us out or receiving our handwritten letters. Undeterred, our bargaining team announced outside their door that we would be waiting for them in the bargaining room to discuss urgent security concerns of our campus community. We slid the letters under their door. We remain ready to talk. It is time for HR to do the same. ----- Hear from U-M grad workers Nathan, Nazelie, Gala, and Anja about the latest news from the bargaining room, and come back next week for updates from our next (extra special Valentines') bargaining session on Friday, February 13. Stay tuned for more updates! Read our bargaining bulletins: https://www.geo3550.org/news/bargaining/ Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/geo_3550/ Visit our website: https://www.geo3550.org Join our allies mailing list: https://www.geo3550.org/join/allies Donate to the Worker Solidarity Fund: https://bit.ly/GEOWorkerSolidarity