Every GSI and GSSA at the University of Michigan is required to contribute to the financial support of  GEO, the union which represents us in collective bargaining, and to decide whether to join GEO.  You authorize this contribution and make this choice by submitting a Union Dues / Representation Service Fee Card to the union.  We call it a yellow card for short.

If you’d like, you can submit your yellow card electronically using our webform.  If you prefer to fill out a paper card, then you can download a Yellow Card PDF here and then mail or drop off your card at the GEO office: 330 East Liberty Street, Suite 3F, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48104-9940.

Below we’ve provided answers to many of the common questions that we hear about dues and membership.  If you have other questions, or if these answers seem unclear, please contact us at umgeo at umich dot edu.

Questions and Answers

(1) How much do I pay?
(2) How do I pay? Can I pay my dues by check?
(3) When will dues be deducted?
(4) Will dues be deducted when I’m not a GSI or GSSA?
(5) Why does everybody pay?
(6) Why do members pay more?
(7) Why should I be a member?
(8) What if I change my mind about membership?
(9) Where does the money go?
(10) Who decides where the money goes?
(11) How can I have a voice in GEO’s financial decisions?

(1) How much do I pay?
For the 2008-09 academic year, Union Dues are set at 1.45% of gross pay.  The Representation-Service Fee is 1.35%.   The following charts are provided for reference.

Fall/Winter Term:

Fraction	Term Salary	Union Dues	Service Fee
.087	$1,404	$20.36	$18.96
.137	$2,211	$32.06	$29.85
.187	$3,018	$43.77	$40.75
.237	$3,825	$55.47	$51.64
.25	$4,036	$58.52	$54.49
.30	$4,843	$70.22	$65.38
.35	$5,650	$81.92	$76.28
.50	$8,070	$117.02	$108.94
.60	$9,684	$140.42	$130.73
.75	$12,105	$175.53	$163.42
1.0	$16,141	$234.05	$217.90

Spring/Summer Term:

Fraction	Term Salary	Union Dues	Service Fee
.087	$702	$10.18	$9.48
.137	$1,106	$16.03	$14.93
.187	$1,509	$21.88	$20.37
.237	$1,913	$27.73	$25.82
.25	$2,018	$29.26	$27.24
.30	$2,422	$35.11	$32.69
.35	$2,825	$40.96	$38.14
.50	$4,035	$58.51	$54.47
.60	$4,842	$70.21	$65.37
.75	$6,053	$87.76	$81.71
1.0	$8,071	$117.02	$108.95

(2) How do I pay? Can I pay my dues by check?  
Once you’ve submitted a yellow card, the appropriate amount will automatically be deducted from your UM pay check. If you wish to cancel this deduction and pay by personal check instead, contact us at umgeo at umich dot edu to make the necessary arrangements.

(3) When will dues be deducted?
Dues are automatically deducted from your paycheck in a lump sum once per term.   Fall term deductions are taken from the November check, Winter term from the March check, Spring term from the June check, and Summer term from the August check.  When corrections are necessary, they are made from the following check.

(4) Will dues be deducted when I’m not a GSI or GSSA?
No.

(5) Why does everybody pay?
As a labor union representing GSIs and GSSAs at the University of Michigan, GEO has a legal obligation to represent everyone in the bargaining unit, not just those who choose to join the organization.  All of us, not just members, share the benefits of collective bargaining.   There are no clauses of the contract which work only to the good of members, and the union does not consider an employee’s membership status when assisting with an employment grievance.

Discharging GEO’s legal obligation of equal representation requires resources.  The most important asset of the GEO are the hours of work put in by members who take personal responsibility for running the union, but GEO needs funds so that it can maintain an office, employ staff, maintain institutional ties, purchase legal advice, and, generally, operate as an effective voice for graduate employees in their employment relationship with the University of Michigan.

Because GEO represents all of us, and all of us benefit from that representation, all of us are required to contribute to the cost.  The system isn’t entirely fair – non-members pay less, and so might be considered by some to be free riders – but it is a compromise which allows GEO to be a strong voice for graduate employees while respecting the wishes of those who choose not to participate.

(6) Why do members pay more?
Although GEO sometimes works on issues that aren’t resolvable through collective bargaining, we are not permitted to use fees paid by non-members to fund those kinds of projects. For example, in 2006 GEO worked with various community groups in a failed attempt to defeat a ballot proposition banning affirmative action in Michigan.  While GEO’s participation in this campaign was widely supported by the membership, it was not an activity that had direct bearing on GEO’s collective bargaining relationship with UM.  Accordingly, GEO’s costs for the campaign were not paid for with funds obtained through the Representation-Service Fee.   A yearly audit examines GEO expenditures to confirm that non-member fees are used exclusively for the purposes of collective bargaining.

(7) Why should I be a member?
The most important reason to join GEO is because doing so is a public expression of your support for the union. By joining GEO, you add your voice to a powerful chorus and contribute to GEO’s mission of improving the working conditions of graduate employees at UM.

Membership in GEO confers full rights to participate in the activities and governance of the union.  All GEO meetings, at all levels, are open to all members.  For example, most GEO business is conducted at regularly scheduled Stewards Council meetings.  Although stewards should be elected by their departments, any member may attend the meeting.

Another example of the opportunities members have to affect the union’s agenda comes from last year’s contract campaign.  During the Fall 2007 term, GEO developed its bargaining platform through an open process that included member participation in meetings held in 22 academic departments.  Later, members in attendance at a Mass Membership Meeting broke into working groups and each group used the information gathered at those departmental meetings to develop a draft platform.

(8) What if I change my mind about membership?
In order to change your membership status, all you need to do is submit a new card.

(9) Where does the money go?
Dues allow GEO to employ staff, pay legal fees, pay office expenses, and cover overhead. In addition a portion of your dues go to our state and national affiliate unions (the MFT and the AFT) in order to share certain expenses (such as attorney fees), and to advocate in Lansing and Washington on issues that affect you.

(10) Who decides where the money goes?
Ultimate authority for approving spending rests with the Stewards Council, but the GEO Treasurer is responsible for day to day oversight of GEO’s finances.

The shape of GEO’s spending each year is determined by the GEO budget.  Typically, a group of volunteers led by the GEO Treasurer will develop a draft budget for the next year during the latter part of the Winter Term.  This is subsequently submitted to the Stewards Council for review and approval.

Periodically throughout the year the Stewards Council is consulted to approve extraordinary expenditures.  This can occur when unanticipated events require the budget to be amended, but is more commonly the result of an anticipated expenditure with a discretionary component.  For example, the GEO budget reserves a significant amount of money for grievance arbitration, but even though the money is already budgeted the Stewards Council would be consulted prior to submission of a grievance for arbitration.

(11) How can I have a voice in GEO’s financial decisions?
The best way to have your voice heard is to serve on the Finance Committee or the Steward’s Council.  Additionally, all GEO meetings are open to all members, so as a member you can attend any Stewards Council meeting at which GEO’s finances are discussed.  Lastly, if you have particular questions or concerns, you can email treasurer at umgeo dot org or discuss them with your department’s steward.