Negotiations are only one part of the collective bargaining process, however.
As those of us who are members of COGS have been reminded in recent months, extra-contractual activities such as rallies, community forums, and membership education are integral to achieving a fair contract and reforming the academic workplace. Moreover, because the health of the academic labor movement ultimately depends upon building a strong, active membership, I will also briefly discuss how membership activity over the past few months influenced the negotiations process. Our second contract goes into effect on July 1, 1999. It also includes a memorandum of understanding between the Board of Regents and the Union regarding the Union's right to assist graduate employees with cases involving sexual harassment and discrimination in the workplace. These gains are significant for a number of reasons.