Currently, Graduate Student Instructors (GSIs) and Graduate Student Staff Assistants (GSSAs) negotiate directly with the University to set the terms and conditions of their employment. GSIs/GSSAs collectively make up the union called, Graduate Employees Organization (GEO). However, the contract negotiated by GEO does not cover GSRAs.
The members of GEO voted to place GSRA representation on the 2010-11 GEO Bargaining Platform. GEO’s goal is to secure the University’s commitment to recognize GSRAs’ right to organize, that is, the GSRAs’ collective right to decide for themselves whether or not they want to become members of GEO and negotiate guidelines for the terms and conditions of their employment.
Currently, members of GEO, with the aid of staff from AFT Michigan, have talked with hundreds of GSRAs across campus. Many GSRAs have expressed the desire to join GEO by signing membership cards. If a strong majority of GSRAs sign membership cards, GEO can use these cards to petition the State of Michigan to restore to GSRAs the legal right to become a part of the GEO bargaining unit.
updated January 16, 2011
