Ratification Passes and We Have a Contract!
Dear Graduate Workers,
We have a contract! All of the ballots have been tallied and 98% of GEO members who voted are in favor of approving the contract. This means that the vote passes and WE HAVE A CONTRACT!
Once the new contract has been properly formatted, we will send out the full document and post it on the GEO website.
See the Flyer below for some highlights of the major changes to this contract:
Based on our Bargaining Pillars here are some of the major wins of this contract:
Wages
Campus Minimum:
Y1: $21,230 (10%); retroactive from August 2022
Y2: $22,080 (4%)
Y3: $23,000 (4.17%)
Y4: $24,200 (5.2%)
Overall 25.3% increase to the minimum over four years
Reappointment Raises:
Y1: 6% (retroactive)
Y2, Y3, Y4, campus wage
Fee Waivers:
Effective Fall 2023, Transportation, and International Student Fees waived
If General Fee increases more than $25 during any semester, the Union may bargain the impact.
The University commits to exploring the feasibility of delaying the due dates of fee payments
Access and Justice
Expanded ability to pursue discrimination cases through both Grievance & OAE except in Title IX, sexual misconduct & imminent safety cases which go through OAE
6 weeks of paid parental leave following birth or adoption of a child.
Added qualifying medical conditions to the list of protected categories
Added definitions of discrimination and harassment
Added language prohibiting retaliation for pursuing a grievance
Health And Safety
Effective Summer 2023, assistants without a summer appointment who had one in the spring will receive a summer automatic waiver if they register in the summer, which includes an 87% healthcare subsidy and a 40% dependent healthcare subsidy for one dependent.
The summer automatic waiver will also provide the same tuition waiver and waiver of the fees waived under the previous contract. Beginning Summer 2024, the Transportation and International Student Fee will also be waived.
The University will give the Union notice if it chooses to move to a two-enrollment period (Fall & Spring).
Effective Fall 2023, dependent healthcare premium coverage will be 40% for one dependent.
Congratulations on a successful year filled with collective organizing, agitation, and mobilizing! Thank you for all of your hard work. This would not have been possible without you.
Please contact the GEO if you have any questions or concerns!
Follow us on social media; and check your emails for more information next week on what you can expect from this new contract and how to enforce it.
Twitter: @geo_uiuc
Instagram: geo_uiuc
Facebook: @uigeo
In Solidarity,
Graduate Employees’ Organization
809 S. 5th St., Geneva Room
Champaign, IL 61820
Email: geo@uigeo.org