Graduate Student UnionThe Graduate Student Union (GSU) is a key ally for all graduate assistants (GAs). The union is responsible for helping to manage the employee/employer relationship between the university and its approximately 500 GAs. This responsibility is carried out through representation of GAs in collective bargaining with the university and in individual interactions with Faculty Personnel Services (FPS).
|
Collective Bargaining |
As a GA, you are already represented by the GSU in collective bargaining. This means that when the employment contract between the union and the university expires, the union bargains with the university in an attempt to secure a new contract on behalf of all GAs, the bargaining unit on campus. This contract decides everything from how much a GA’s stipend is, to how much a tuition waiver will cover. Once contracts are negotiated, they last a specific number of years that is specified in the contract itself. After this negotiation, the GSU meets with its members to ratify or vote on the contract. While the contract determines the benefits and broad responsibilities of each GA, only GAs who are active members of the union have voting rights for the agreement.
|
Active Membership |
Being an active member of the union means filling out a consent card and paying union dues. Union dues are about 2% of each stipend payment, automatically withdrawn from the payment each payday (Graduate Student Union 3). These dues provide funding for the union’s office, supplies, training, legal counsel, and membership in the American Federation of Teachers at the state and national level. All union leadership serves on a volunteer basis.
|
Grievance and Arbitration |
There may be a time when you believe your direct supervisor, or a supervisor above that level, has invalidated the terms of the contractual agreement between the Graduate Student Union and the university. In these cases, the union represents GAs in grievance proceedings. A grievance is a “written complaint by a Graduate Assistant(s) and request for remedy involving an alleged violation” of the agreement between the university and the Graduate Student Union (Graduate Student Union 6). The grievance process allows GAs to pursue a resolution for the violation of the agreement without fear of retribution. Having the union there to represent you at this time provides expertise in the employment relationship between the university and the GA and a helpful navigator in the grievance and arbitration process. More information about the union and resources for union membership can be found here.
|
Josh Whicker is a second year Master of Arts student in the Creative Writing Program.
His focus of study is fiction and creative non-fiction. Josh enjoys reading flash fiction in literature magazines such as Brevity and believes that our stories, in whatever form, are what creates the connections between us.
Central Michigan University respects the diversity of values and opinions held by members of its community. The views expressed on this page are those of the author and not necessarily those of Central Michigan University or its officers and trustees. The content of this page has not been reviewed or approved by Central Michigan University, and the author is solely responsible for its content.