Join us in the Erickson Hall Kiva (map) from 5:30 – 7 PM!

The proposed agenda includes reports by the Executive Board, GEU Committees, as well a Discussion of Plans for Bargaining our Next Contract!

Childcare reimbursement is available. Please email the GEU office for more info.

You can access detailed information about the program via the Web at:  http://health4u.msu.edu/msuchantix.htm. Space is limited, so it is important that interested employees sign up to attend the September 15 orientation as soon as possible. To apply to the program, call 517-353-2596 or send an e-mail to Health4U@msu.edu.

The program combines the medication CHANTIX with medical evaluation and monitoring as well as structured behavioral support. Olin Health Center, the Office of the University Physician-Health4U Program and Human Resources have teamed up to offer MSU employees and their adult benefits-eligible family members a chance to enroll in this potentially life changing year-long program at a greatly reduced cost.

President: Sam Otten, Mathematics Education
Vice President Organizing & Outreach: Andrew Cooper, Mathematics
Vice President Contract Negotiations & Enforcement: Benjamin Dettmar, American Studies
Treasurer: Lorenza Black, Chemistry
Information Officer, Guiseppe Getto, Writing & Rhetoric

Denny,

As you probably already know, as a teaching assistant you are automatically enrolled in the graduate assistant health care plan (which is a significant step up from the general student base plan). This plan, however, does NOT include dental coverage.

To address this shortage, the GEU has bargained to secure dental coverage availability for all teaching assistants through a cost-sharing plan with Michigan State. The plan is through Midwestern Dental and you have to enroll in the plan, but you can do this at any time. For an enrollment form, stop by the GEU office (319 1/2 E Grand River Ave) or download the form from our website.

For a one-time payment of $34.50 (Michigan State pays the other half), you can receive two free cleanings/examinations with x-rays included. You also receive significant discounts on fillings, crowns, bridges, root canals, and all other services. Past GEU bargaining committees have fought hard for this benefit, so take advantage of it and spread the word to others who may benefit from it as well.

Smilingly yours,
Sam Otten

Sam Otten is the chair of the Grievance Committee of the Graduate Employees Union at Michigan State University.

Sally,

In terms of your teaching assistantship, I would begin by suggesting that you try avoid overwork before it happens. It sounds like you have a half-time appointment, which means you should work an average of 20 hours per week throughout the semester. You may want to outline all the duties that count officially as TA work and estimate how much time you will spend on each. These tasks include obvious things like teaching, office hours, grading, and course meetings, but also less obvious things like prep time, copying, and reading and responding to student emails. If you think that these activities will bring you close or put you over the 20 hours per week, you should have a meeting with your course supervisor and talk about where to save time. There is a worksheet in the GEU contract that you can use to aid this conversation.

Also, I would recommend that you keep some sort of log of your hours. That way, if you do end up being overloaded by your assistantship (which is more likely with what sounds like overloaded sections) you will be able to make a strong case for yourself. You can get a worklog by stopping in to the GEU office at 319 1/2 East Grand River. Of course, it is even better to avoid the overwork before it happens. Good luck!

Yours in duty,
Sam Otten

Sam Otten is the chair of the Grievance Committee of the Graduate Employees Union at Michigan State University.

Gail,

I imagine that the parent feels justified getting involved because they are paying at least part of the student’s tuition, but this is not your concern. You are the TA for the student and it is completely irrelevant who is financing his or her education. So you are not obligated to interact with the parent. Furthermore, our contract with the university guarantees you a safe working environment (Article 7, Section II), so if you feel uncomfortable with the parental situation you should not hesitate to pass the issue on to your supervisor.

While we’re on the topic of grades at the end of the semester, I should also mention that any TA who teaches a lecture, lab, or discussion course is required to be consulted prior to any change to the grades they’ve assigned (Article 9, Section IX). This reaffirms the notion that TAs’ grading procedures and decisions should be respected.

Yours in assessment,
Sam Otten

Sam Otten is the chair of the Grievance Committee of the Graduate Employees Union at Michigan State University.

Here are the details:

Wages:
* Annual stipend increases of 3%, 2.75%, and 2.5%
* Clarification on how you get to Level 3 pay

Health Insurance:
* 25 visits for mental health (up from 20)
* Employer will contribute $2100 (or up to 70%) each year towards the cost of insuring a dependent
* Increase prescription cap to $7500 (up from $5000)
* Reduction in mental health co-pays to $10 (down from $30)
* Prescription co-pay reduced to $5 for generics and $10 for brand (down from $10 and $20)
* OEI coverage

Tuition Waiver:
* Fall 9 credits, Spring 9 credits, Summer 5 credits

Parking:
* Maintain current parking benefits

College Fees:
* No change

Term of the agreement:
* Three year contract: 2008-2011

Employee Rights:
* Reimbursement for copies and other course materials
* MSU email addresses and space equal to what is given to faculty

Appointments:
* Appointments will be made by March 31 for summer, April 22 for Fall & Spring. If letters are late employees who notify the Union will receive 2 weeks pay after a 3 day grace period expires.

Professional Development:
* Input into TAP program
* Employees can request additional discipline specific training from supervisors

Personnel Records:
* TAs will receive a copy of materials placed in record
* TAs will have the opportunity to respond to materials placed in their file
* A Union rep can go with TA to view their file

Health & Safety:
* University will reimburse for immunizations and meds required for international travel while working as a TA

Special Conferences:
* Bi-monthly meetings with Office of Employee Relations bi-monthly to discuss grievances
* Union will meet with Dean of Graduate School each semester
We would like to thank all of the people who helped make this contract possible including the American Federation of Teachers, the Lansing Labor Council (LLC),Building Trades of Michigan, the Clerical Technical Union @ MSU (CTU), The MI AFL-CIO, the Graduate Employees Organization at University of Michigan, GEOC and UPTF at Wayne State University, Students for Economic Justice @MSU, IATSE, and last but not least the fine faculty and students here at MSU.