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| About the Graduate Assistants United |
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2007 Elections The GAU elections were held on April 25, 2007 and the following graduate assistants will serve as the Executive Committee for the 2007-08 year: Jocelyne Dolce - President Yafei Yang - Vice President Laura Gostin - Grievance Chair Lillie Langlois - Secretary Crystal Fry - Treasurer About the Union Graduate Assistants United (GAU)is the legally recognized bargaining unit for the approximatly 600 graduate research and teaching assistants at the University of Rhode Island. There are 30 other legally recognized graduate assistant employee unions in the United States, and many others around the world. The GAU was formed in 2001 by a group of graduate students who were looking to improve the wages and working conditions for themselves and for those who would follow as future graduate assistants. Their actions resulted in the formation of a democratically run organization with the ability to bargain benefits for all graduate assistants at the University, and to protect employment rights as defined in a negotiated contractual agreement. Gained benefits have included increased wages, tuition benefits, paid health insurance and parental leave. They also include protection from arbitrary actions through a specific grievance process. Membership in the organization is not mandatory, but strongly encouraged. When necessary, the strength of an organization comes from the number of members who agree with the principles of that organization. It is also a statement in support of the work of the few who lead the organization. Membership also entitles you to full voting rights in in the Union, including voting for negotiated agreements, and allows you to hold office on designated and ad-hoc committees. Although all graduate assistants are required to pay an agency fee for collective bargaining purposes, membership does not cost any additional money. Please contact the GAU for further information on how to become a member. GAU Dues In accordance with Title 36-11-2 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, membership in any employee organization may be determined by each individual employee; provided, however that all non-members shall pay to the GAU, a service charge as a contribution toward the administration of the negotiated collective bargaining agreement in an amount equal to the regular membership fee. The members of the GAU have determined that .81% of salary per graduate assistant will constitute that service charge. As per the collective bargaining agreement, the URI administration is authorized to withdraw that amount from the graduate assistants wages and promptly forward that anoount to the GAU. The GAU Executive Committee is charged with maintaing a budget that enhances the functionality and stability of the organization. Included in those expences are: stipends for the executive committee, rent of office space, administrative and negotiative services of the URI/AAUP, insurance, and National membership dues. Other Recognized Graduate Unions in USA These unions are officially recognized as Collective Bargaining Agents and negotiate contracts with their employers. California State University System: UAW Local 4123 City University of New York: Professional Staff Congress / AAUP / AFT Local 2334 Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University: Graduate Assistants United / United Faculty of Florida, Local 7463 Michigan State University: Graduate Employees Union / AFT Local 6196 New York University: Graduate Student Organizing Committee / UAW Local 2110 Oregon State University: Coalition of Graduate Employees / AFT Local 6069 Rutgers University: Rutgers Council of AAUP Chapters Southern Illinois University Carbondale: Graduate Assistants United / IEA/NEA State University of New York System: Graduate Student Employees Union / CWA Local 1104 Temple University: Temple University Graduate Student Association / AFT Local 6290 University of California System: UAW Local 2865 University of Florida: Graduate Assistants United / United Faculty of Florida, Local 7463 University of Illinois -- Chicago: Graduate Employees Organization / AFT Local 6297 University of Illinois -- Urbana-Champaign: Graduate Employees' Organization / AFT University of Iowa: Campaign to Organize Graduate Students / UE Local 896 University of Kansas: Graduate Teaching Assistants' Coalition / KAPE / AFT Local 4565 University of Massachusetts -- Amherst: Graduate Employee Organization / UAW Local 2322 University of Massachusetts -- Boston: Graduate Employee Organization / UAW University of Massachusetts -- Lowell: Graduate Employee Organization / UAW Local 1596 University of Michigan: Graduate Employees Organization / AFT Local 3550 University of Oregon: Graduate Teaching Fellows Federation / AFT Local 3544 University of Rhode Island: Graduate Assistants United / URi-AAUP University of South Florida: Graduate Assistants United / United Faculty of Florida, Local 7463 University of Washington -- Seattle: UAW Local 4121 University of Wisconsin -- Madison: Teaching Assistants' Association / AFT Local 3220 University of Wisconsin -- Milwaukee: Milwaukee Graduate Assistants Association / AFT Local 2169 Wayne State University: Graduate Employees Organizing Committee / AFT Local 6123 Western Michigan University: Teaching Assistants Union / AFT |
