Graduate student employees and members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) gathered outside the Michigan League on February 12, 2026, to advocate for improved wages and protections against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The protest coincided with a scheduled bargaining session that was unexpectedly canceled when the state-appointed mediator, Micki Czerniak, announced a suspension of negotiations for 28 days.
The demonstration persisted until 9:30 a.m., with participants holding signs demanding fair pay and expressing their opposition to ICE’s presence on campus. Protesters also called for the expansion of Ann Arbor’s Unarmed Crisis Response Program, aimed at rerouting non-criminal calls to trained unarmed responders rather than police officers. Chants echoed throughout the gathering, including “Ann Arbor is a union town, if we don’t get it, shut it down,” and “United we bargain, divided we beg.”
In an interview, Daniel Weaver, chair of GEO’s salary working group, emphasized the need for the university administration to engage with the community. He expressed concern that university leadership has become isolated, making decisions without considering the input of those who work there. “A picket is a place to make that visible,” he stated.
Support for the protest came from various sectors of the University of Michigan community, including lecturers, undergraduate organizations, and local officials. Yousef Rabhi, a candidate for Ann Arbor mayor and Washtenaw County commissioner, attended the protest with a sign reading “Fair Work, Fair Pay.” He expressed solidarity with GEO’s demands, particularly the call for an ICE-free campus, describing it as “really important.”
Rabhi criticized the university’s decision to cancel in-person negotiations and the mediator’s suspension of sessions as disrespectful to established labor practices. “These folks that are out here today are the people that make the University run,” he remarked, highlighting the essential role of graduate students in the academic environment.
Protection from ICE has emerged as a critical concern for many GEO members. During their last bargaining session, the organization sought to introduce proposals aimed at limiting the university’s cooperation with ICE and establishing protocols for notifying the community when ICE is present on campus.
The protest also attracted undergraduate organizers, including Siena Ramirez, a junior in Public Policy and a member of the TAHRIR Coalition. She emphasized the importance of supporting GEO’s efforts, linking their fight for rights to the broader rights of all individuals on campus. “It’s our responsibility to do what we can to support each other’s rights,” she stated, underscoring the interconnectedness of their struggles.
Hiab Teshome, GEO president, welcomed the support from various community members, noting that the issues being addressed in their contract negotiations affect everyone at the university. “When allies are coming to the picket or coming to our bargaining spaces, it’s super important because it’s showing what we can do together to change our collective spaces,” he said.
The GEO’s ongoing efforts reflect a larger movement towards equitable treatment and working conditions for graduate employees, highlighting the need for dialogue and collaboration between the university administration and its workforce. As the organization navigates these challenges, the commitment from both graduate students and supporters underscores the significance of their cause.
