Graduate Researcher Union Drive

In November 2023, Michigan Law changed so that Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs) can legally Unionize as a bargaining unit. This law went into effect the following February. Even though GEU has existed for almost 25 years now, GRAs were barred from joining as full members. Instead we have had to limit GRAs to joining as associates, with full participation rights, but without protections and negotiated contracts.

Sign your Union Card Here
https://bit.ly/3Ao6EuY

Even though GRA unionization is now legal, numerous obstacles still remain, primarily since MSU can set the rules around establishing a new bargaining unit. We have three main limitations:

1. MSU insists that we obtain signatures from 50%+1 of GRAs within a year of the first card being signed, otherwise they all go “stale” and become invalid
2. Because of turnover and appointment changes, MSU will claim that some of those who signed cards are no longer GRAs and thus no longer counts. In reality, appointment changes do not invalidate your card! MSU Human Resources is attempting similar attacks on the Tenured and Non-Tenured Faculty unions.

Therefore, our campaign has to be Timely, Coordinated, and Effective.

What benefits will I get if GRA unionization is recognized by MSU?

Currently we don’t have a contract. That means there is no protection if the university, but the GEU has been successful before in negotiating a contract for the GTAs with benefits that include but are not limited to:

• A 19% cumulative increase to the minimum pay for TAs in this contract (Article 19. Section 4)
• Lower cost healthcare for families, with increased freedom for seeking primary care (Article 21. Section 1)
• Paid medical leave (Article 18. Section 1)
• Proactive overwork protection (Article 13. Sections 2-3)
• WAIVED REC FEE and no additional fees (Article 20. Sec 3)
• Formalized, legally binding grievance process (Article 26)

..and more that can be read in the current GTA contract. We believe GRAs should have these same rights in a contract too.

How will I be protected by the contract?

GEU will provide you with union representation if your contractual rights are breached. We will also negotiate a defined grievance process that allows for multiple levels of appeal. If the University breaches the union contract, we can provide legal support for the entire bargaining unit. Without a union, GRAs have to rely on university legal protection or personal lawyers if they have grievances against university or outside influences.

Will this cost me money?

Signing a card as an GRA will not obligate you to pay Union dues. You will eventually pay dues after we are recognized by MSU, however, the exact amount will be voted on by the Union membership. The dues rate can always be changed by a vote of the membership. You will not pay dues until there is a contract negotiated for GRAs. To get an idea of what union dues might be, the current GEU dues are 1.6% of a TA’s annual salary. Part of our draft platform is to continue to push for higher wages and better benefits, which will more than offset the cost of union dues.

I’m on a fellowship or an external grant, MD-PhD, or Law student – am I still covered?

At the moment, yes! GEU’s proposed bargaining unit includes all the graduate employee titles to ensure that MSU can’t simply change our position to keep us from being covered by the union. It is possible that MSU will contest our bargaining unit after we are recognized, however, so this may change in the future if the GRAs and other GAs do not organize.

I’m an international student, can I join the union?

Yes! International students are as much a part of the GRA workforce as domestic students, both legally and materially. The GEU has negotiated specific benefits for international students, including reimbursement of the SEVIS fee after four semesters – a benefit RAs can seek once we unionize. Crucially, your visa status will not be jeopardized if you join a union since we are a legally recognized organization.

Will my stipend be decreased to increase other stipends?

No. The union will always fight for raises to the minimum pay for all GRAs, and will never seek to impose a maximum pay. Currently, there is no legally binding minimum pay for GRAs at MSU while GTAs have legally protected minimum pay rates. Currently, with no GRA contract, there is already no means to stop MSU from decreasing the pay of GRAs. A contract allows GRAs to have a more stable and reliable financial situation regardless of departmental/university turnover and budget changes.
While we can’t increase the pay of outside fellowship pay, the handling of payment by MSU can be affected by an GRA contract, which may allow more consistent payment methods and clearer taxation for those on fellowships. Not to mention that GRAs will finally be paid on time!

Will joining the union hinder my graduate career?

No. Anyone who is a member of or is attempting to form a Union is protected under Federal law. You have a legal right to collective bargaining (aka forming a union) in the United States of America. Furthermore, a union contract would include a clause to protect GRAs from retaliation.
Unions are common in higher education and are organized at over forty top-tier public research universities, and hiring committees do not ask about union activities. Many public universities similar to MSU, such as the University of Iowa, the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, and the University of Kansas, have graduate employee unions.
There is also a growing pro-union culture among faculty at MSU; if your professors, graduate secretaries, and other support staff are also joining their own Unions, the solidarity among different Unions can protect us from segments of the MSU administration who are anti-union. Remember: The Union of Non-Tenured Faculty showed up in support of the GEU numerous times during our last contract bargaining cycle. Allies keep us strong!

Can my advisor retaliate against me for participating in union activity?

No. Retaliation is expressly prohibited by law. Advisors or supervisors of any sort cannot attempt to dissuade you from joining the union, and they are expressly prohibited from asking how you will vote in a union election or whether you are involved in or a member of the union. If you are aware that your supervisor is opposed to unionization, you are legally entitled to withhold your position on the question.

Will a union impact my relationship with my advisor?

This is a common talking point used by anti-union university administrators. However, an extensive study by Cornell’s ILR School found that evidence suggests that there is no difference in student-advisor relationships between union and non-union Universities, and that graduate employees at unionized universities report “higher levels of personal and professional support.”

Will overwork protections restrict me from working extra to graduate?

No. Overwork protections are implemented to protect graduates from being forced by faculty to work more than is required, wanted, or safe to work. These protections are not built to make it more difficult for graduate students to work if they desire to or to hinder graduation progress but to guarantee a safe and enthusiastic workplace for graduate research.

If I Sign, Will I Have to go on Strike?

Striking is a last resort for us since the contract includes a no-strike clause — at least for now — legally restricting us from striking. We hope that MSU Human Resources will be open to negotiating the contract with us without us having to show that without us, no research will get done at all. In addition, large actions cannot be taken without a vote from the membership.

What about COGS? Why do we need another organization to represent graduate workers?

COGS plans social and professional events and acts as a voice for graduate students in regards to academic issues. The GEU however represents us as workers, not as students, and covers a different range of issues. Additionally, COGS cannot engage in collective bargaining so MSU cannot be forced to listen to COGS input.

RA Contract Survey

For other questions about RA Unionizing, you can contact us at grud@geuatmsu.org.

Contact Us

The Union is strong because of each member, don’t hesitate to reach out, ask a question, or get involved!

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