▁by ▁Deput y ▁University ▁Leg al ▁Coun sel ▁Steve ▁Ve az ie , ▁agreed ▁to ▁a ▁series ▁of ▁meet ings ▁with ▁G E O ▁represent atives ▁to ▁decide ▁on ▁the ▁composition ▁of ▁the ▁b arg aining ▁unit . ▁After ▁nearly ▁seven ▁weeks ▁of ▁negoti ations , ▁the ▁G E O ▁and ▁university ▁officials ▁were ▁able ▁to ▁come ▁to ▁an ▁agreement ▁on ▁the ▁composition ▁of ▁the ▁b arg aining ▁unit . ▁ ▁Union ▁election ▁ ▁The ▁labor ▁board ▁scheduled ▁the ▁first ▁G E O ▁election ▁for ▁the ▁week ▁before ▁Fall ▁sem ester ▁final ▁ex ams : ▁December ▁ 3 – 4 , ▁ 2 0 0 2 . ▁In ▁a ▁ 1 1 8 8 ▁to ▁ 3 4 7 ▁decision , ▁gradu ate ▁students ▁over wh el ming ly ▁voted ▁for ▁G E O ▁to ▁represent ▁them ▁at ▁the ▁b arg aining ▁table . ▁ ▁Cont ract s ▁ ▁G E O ' s ▁first ▁contract ▁sp anned ▁from ▁ 2 0 0 3 ▁to ▁ 2 0 0 6 . ▁Once ▁this ▁contract ▁ended , ▁in ▁the ▁spring ▁of ▁ 2 0 0 7 , ▁G E O ▁rat ified ▁their ▁second ▁contract ▁for ▁ 2 0 0 6 - 2 0 0 9 ▁with ▁back - pay , ▁a ▁greater ▁subs id y ▁of ▁gradu ate ▁health care , ▁and ▁higher ▁w ages . ▁ ▁B arg aining ▁for ▁the ▁third ▁contract ▁began ▁in ▁April ▁ 2 0 0 9 . ▁In ▁early ▁November , ▁a ▁strike ▁authorization ▁vote ▁was ▁over