Being unionized means that GSIs and GSSAs work together to negotiate their compensation and working conditions, and that those rights are enforceable because no employee must deal with work problems alone. We stand behind each other in a formalized grievance procedure. The GEO Contract is the agreement negotiated every three years with the UM administration by GSIs and GSSAs. Here’s a quick look at some of the rights that are guaranteed in the Contract. If you think you are being denied any of these rights (or are being treated unfairly in some other way), you should file a grievance, so that you can solve the problem in a manner which involves clear procedures and support from others. Remember that if you ignore a problem, the next person with that job will probably experience the same problem. Contact your steward or the GEO office at 995-0221 or grievance at geo3550 dot org as soon as possible when a problem arises.
Hours: You have the right to be paid for all hours you work. This includes preparation time, time spent before the term begins, and all other job-related duties. If you think you may be working too many hours, you can file an ‘hours grievance’ asking for a reduction in work or an increase in pay to the appropriate appointment fraction.
Job classification: If you are a graduate student who has been hired to teach or grade, in almost all cases you should be classified as a Graduate Student Instructor. If you have been hired as a ‘lecturer,’ ‘grader,’ or ‘tutor’ you are probably misclassified; you should receive the full salary, benefits and protection of the GEO Contract including tuition waiver and medical benefits. If you think you are or may be misclassified, talk to your steward or contact the GEO office.
Job security: As a GSI or GSSA, you can be terminated (or your hours and pay reduced) only for two reasons: you are not making satisfactory progress toward your degree, or your employment performance is unsatisfactory (this includes misconduct). In cases of unsatisfactory performance, the department must discuss the matter with you and schedule a departmental review, before terminating you or reducing your duties. Often, job security questions arise at or near the beginning of a term when a GSI believes that he or she has been hired but the department says he or she hasn’t. Whenever possible, get a confirmation of your appointment in writing. If you have been offered a job and are subsequently told that the job has been filled or is no longer available, or has mysteriously turned into a lower fraction appointment, your department is probably violating the contract; contact your steward or the GEO office as soon as possible.
Discrimination: The contract has a non-discrimination clause which protects all members from discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital status, familial status, parental status or pregnancey status, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, height, weight, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, HIV antibody status, political belief, membership in any social or political organization, participation in a grievance or complaint whether formal or informal, or any other factor irrelevant to employment status or funcion. If you feel that you may have been discriminated against, please talk to your steward or contact the GEO office.
Hiring Policies: If you think you have been unfairly denied employment, you may be able to file a grievance under the contract. According to the contract, departments are required to have written hiring criteria, and they are required to follow them. If your department doesn’t have any hiring policies and you want to work to develop them, contact your departmental steward or the GEO office.
Tuition waiver: If you have a 25% or higher appointment fraction, you do not pay any tuition. Persons with lower fractions receive partial tuition waivers. Be aware that GSIs and GSSAs are required to register for at least six credits, so with an appointment below .25 you will have to pay some of the tuition cost. There is no contractual limit on the number of courses you may register for with your waiver; if your department tells you that you cannot register for all of the courses you want, or that your waiver won’t cover all of your courses, contact your steward or the GEO office right away. In Spring and Summer, unlike Fall and Winter terms, registration is optional. You have the contractual right to choose to register. You should not pay any fees except an $80 registration fee.
Library privileges: You have the same library privileges as professors do, but you must get a staff card at the main desk at the Grad. Take your appointment letter or card with you. If you check out books with your staff card, you don’t pay overdue fines, unless you fail to return a recalled book!
Photocopying privileges: You have access to departmental photocopiers under the same terms as professors do.
Contract enforcement is something that all members of GEO need to take responsibility for. This means that all of us need to make sure that departments are respecting our rights and abiding fully by the contract. There are a number of avenues that each of us can take with regards to contract enforcement, from group meetings with department chairs to filing grievances. Different problems require different tactics. The grievant is in charge of determining the most appropriate avenue for remedy; GEO will never file a grievance without a grievant’s full support.
While the grievance procedure is a formal process with three clear phases (or ‘steps’), some supervisors have attempted to use intimidation to deter their students from filing grievances. Intimidation and discrimination because of exercising your rights as a worker are illegal and constitute an Unfair Labor Practice under state law. It is important to recognize and label intimidation when you see it, and communicate that you will not let it take away your legal rights as a worker protected under the Contract.
If you have any questions about your working conditions or your rights under the Contract, contact your steward or the GEO office at 995-0221. Or, send email to grievance at geo3550 dot org .
