We exist as a labor union to make the Michigan State University community a better place in which to work and study. We believe that graduate employees have the rights to fair wages, decent health care, safe working conditions, and a workplace free from discrimination. Through collective bargaining, the Graduate Employees Union works to make MSU a more democratic, equitable, dynamic, and diverse community, where the work that we all do is valued and respected.
-Scott Henkel, GEU President 2002-2004
who we are
Members of the Graduate Employees Union are all graduate students at Michigan State University — in fact, nearly 80% of MSU teaching assistants are members of GEU. We have our own academic responsibilities in courses, exams, theses and dissertations and we also teach classes, grade students’ assignments, conduct research, and perform many of the duties which the university needs to function. We are affiliated with the AFT-Michigan (American Federation of Teachers), and the American Federation of Labor/Council of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO).
why we formed a union
We formed a union — currently one of about thirty similar unions in the nation — for some very important reasons: by uniting and speaking with a common voice through collective bargaining, graduate students have a powerful tool which can be used to improve working and living conditions. We formed a union because teaching assistants, research assistants, and graduate assistants have been consistently overworked, underpaid, and disrespected. TAs, RAs, and GAs are often the first to be cut when budgets get tight, often asked to perform work that is not included in their contracts, and are often passed by when faculty and administrators are given pay raises. With a union, graduate students who work at the university have an organization that gives them the support to work to the best of their abilities, holds the university accountable for its actions, and ensures that graduate employees will be treated like professionals.
Quite simply, with a union, graduate students who work at the university can expect better pay, better tuition wavers, improved health care, better employment training, decreased workloads, and protection from unfair treatment by the university in the form of a detailed grievance procedure. Unions are the best way to fight workplace discrimination because they give individual graduate students a forum to be heard, and an ally to work with when the administration acts unjustly.
how we function
Above all else, unions are democratic organizations where each member’s opinion is sought through public elections. We function in the following ways:
- Membership meetings – held at least twice a semester. At membership meetings, the entire membership is invited to speak about important issues, hear about the details of union work, and participate in planning union events.
- Actions – GEU members are passionate about enforcing our contractual rights. These actions may take the form of demonstrations, rallies, informational pickets, and other events as deemed necessary. GEU members vote to determine the time and nature of such events.
- Dues & Fees – If you decide to join GEU, you will pay dues, which are automatically deducted from your paycheck. The dues rate is currently set at 1.6% of salary. If you do not join GEU, you will still enjoy the same basic economic and contractual gains your colleagues have won. However, you will not be able to vote in any GEU matters or hold office within the union. Because the union negotiates benefits and rights of all TAs, you will pay a representation fee to the union, currently set at 1.44% of salary. ALL teaching assistants must submit a yellow card indicating their choice regarding membership.
structure of GEU
The Graduate Employees Union elects five Officers in the spring of each year: President, Vice President for Organizing & Outreach, Vice President for Contract Negotiations and Grievances, Treasurer, and Information Officer. GEU also employs a contract administrator and staff organizer who assist us in the day-to-day operations of our organization.
The Stewards Council consists of GEU members from all departments of the university and is responsible for organizing the union, planning events and actions, and approving union policies. Stewards are elected by their department and meet once a week the union office. Each department may have one steward for every fifteen graduate student employees in the department. Stewards are the links from the academic departments to the union: they provide communication to their fellow graduate students from the union and relay information to their departments from the union.
The Grievance Committee is the body that makes sure that our contract is enforced properly. This committee defends our contractual rights and negotiates solutions when problems arise.
The Publicity Committee is responsible for the public face of GEU — communicating with members via the monthly newsletter ‘GEU Update’, establishing relationships with the press, maintaining the website, making informational flyers, posters, et cetera.
The Budget Committee oversees GEU spending expenditures. The Budget Oversight Committee, which is composed of members who do not sit on the Budget Committee, makes sure that GEU financial records are in order. This committee meets on an ad hoc basis.
The Pedagogy Committee helps ensure TAs receive the professional development training they need to be successful in their jobs, determine the needs of our membership in terms of professional development, and communicates with MSU regarding professional development for TAs.
Remember: you are the union. With everyone’s help, we can be a very strong organization. If you’re interested in joining one of these committees, email the union at geu@geuatmsu.org or call 517.332.2824.
