Micki Czerniak — the state mediator appointed to facilitate contract bargaining between the Graduate Employees’ Organization and Academic Human Resources at the University of Michigan — has suspended all contract negotiations between the two parties for 28 days. In a letter sent Feb. 12 justifying the decision, Czerniak alleged GEO has acted inappropriately during open bargaining sessions.
Czerniak was appointed by the Michigan Employment Relations Commission to facilitate shuttle bargaining between HR and GEO when HR’s declined to meet with the union face-to-face, citing an incident in which GEO attempted to record the audio and video of a joint Zoom session between the parties. Czerniak’s conduct as mediator has been controversial, as GEO members have alleged that shuttle negotiation has hindered the bargaining process and Czerniak unfairly biased toward the University.
During last week’s open bargaining session, union members left their discussion with Czerniak to deliver letters requesting an in-person meeting to HR’s offices. They also asked HR to consider the union’s demands for stronger protections against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, whose local presence has made GEO members fear for their safety in the workplace…