Stewards’ Council
The Stewards’ Council (SC) is the primary organizing body of GEO. In SC, representatives from across campus come together to discuss the needs of our membership and develop a GEO culture across campus. Right now, we are working to increase membership and knowledge of our working conditions to support contract bargaining. If you are interested in representing your department or cultural organization, email sc@uigeo.org for more information
Coordinating Committee
The Coordinating Committee (CC) is led by the Co-Presidents and made up of elected officers from all committees. The CC is the executive body of the union and makes decisions about day-to-day union business, large‐scale projects, finances, and the GEO’s long-term vision. Any member can attend CC meetings, and upcoming meeting times are posted on the GEO calendar. For questions about the CC and/or to add items to the CC agenda, please contact the Co‐Presidents at cc@uigeo.org.
Grievance Committee
People First, Cancel Debt Committee
Whether it’s late wages, a missing tuition waiver, or retaliation in the workplace, the Grievance Committee enforces the union contract and helps GEO members navigate and resolve issues with the UIUC administration. The Grievance Committee also educates union members about the contract and distributes information to the larger campus community. We are looking for members who are interested in labor issues, like to advocate for others, and are detail-oriented! We are working hard defending members who are experiencing potential violations of the contract. If you are interested in joining the Grievance Committee, email grievance@uigeo.org!
The People First Cancel Debt Committee was founded in the summer of 2020 and our goal is to build a University that is run by workers, students and the community with free tuition, subsidized resources, critical and liberatory education and that it divests from imperialistic forms of funding and of course debt. We're an anti-capitalist, anti-racist, anti-ableist and anti-patriarchal committee that through agitative politics, political education and militant organizing we will build a "People First" University.
The Solidarity Committee (SolComm) builds connections between the GEO and other movements and local social justice projects through financial endorsements, statements of support, collaborations, and more. SolComm supports several local organizations and movements that work towards economic, racial, gender, disability, prison, and environmental justice. In addition to graduate employees, we welcome undergraduate students and C-U community members to participate. If you are interested in joining the Solidarity Committee, please email solcomm@uigeo.org.
Solidarity Committee
The Communications Committee produces GEO-Ls and flyers, manages GEO’s social media, responds to interview requests, designs and orders swag, and more. They need people with a variety of skills, and they’d love to have you. If you are interested in joining the Communications Committee, email commcomm@uigeo.org or just come to a meeting!
Communications Committee
The Personnel Committee (PC) is made up of elected members and is tasked with hiring Union staff and establishing all terms of staff employment, including, but not limited to, wages and benefits. Its membership includes three people elected by the Stewards Council, current staff, and the two Co-Presidents who serve as co-chairs of the committee. The PC acts as the contract bargaining committee with the Union staff and works with the staff to establish and renew employee contracts. If you have any questions about the PC, please email the Co-Presidents at cc@uigeo.org.
Personnel Committee
The Treasurer is responsible for the accounts of the GEO. The Treasurer makes regular reports to the Membership, and make the financial records of the GEO available for annual audit by officers selected for that purpose or by independent auditors not otherwise connected with the GEO. If you have any questions, please email the Treasurer at treasurer@uigeo.org.
The Finance Committee is tasked with accounting, reporting to members on how dues are spent, fundraising, and connecting members to emergency financial support. We're currently ramping up our fundraising initiatives to prepare for full contract bargaining. Email treasurer@uigeo.org if you would like to get involved!
Treasurer and Finance Committee
We know you have questions about what healthcare options are offered by our current contract, and we remain committed to guaranteed accessible and affordable healthcare for all graduate students. Our Healthcare Working Group (HCWG) is a member-led caucus that works towards informing members and organizing around our healthcare. If you have any questions about your healthcare or are interested in working towards improving it, you can contact the Healthcare Working Group at health@uigeo.org!
Health Care Working Group
Interested in structure and community values? Like clarifying procedures and logistics? Just want to know more about GEO? Join the newly formed Constitutional Committee to work on updating our Constitution and By-Laws! The Constitutional Committee needs members who are interested in developing a proposal to present to our general membership in the fall for review and ratification. Contact cc@uigeo.org if you’re interested in getting involved!
Constitutional Committee
The Bargaining Team (BT) is formed during bargaining year and acts as the representative for graduate employees in negotiations with the University administration and any other relevant body over terms and conditions of employment. If in person, during the bargaining session the two bargaining teams face one another and negotiate. Members of the bargaining team are members in good standing, and include at least one of the Co-Presidents, two representatives chosen by the Stewards’ Council, and one member-at-large chosen by the membership at a membership meeting. Other members may be appointed by the Coordinating Committee, subject to the approval of the Stewards Council, or be elected by the Stewards Council or the membership following a decision by that body. Additional members may be appointed by these various bodies from time to time. For questions about bargaining, please contact barg@uigeo.org.
Bargaining Team
RA/PGA Working Group
In 2019 the Illinois state legislature passed HB253, reclassifying Research and Pre-Professional Graduate Assistants as "employees" rather than "students." Governor Pritzker is expected to sign the bill into law with an effective date of 1/1/2020. Having "employee" status doesn't change anything immediately, but opens the door to graduate employees in these categories having a union. The RA/PGA Unionization Working Group is researching paths to unionization, planning organizing these groups of employees, and answering questions and disseminating information to general membership. If you are interested in working around these issues please contact geo@uigeo.org.