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Open letter to UIUC faculty regarding international students and the strike

Dear UIUC Faculty,

Greetings from GEO! We are writing to you today to ensure that you are
aware of the rights of international students and employees to
participate in activities related to collective bargaining.  Most
especially, we want to emphasize to you that international graduate
students who are members of GEO and are employed in the GEO bargaining
unit have the [...]

GEO speaks out against Daily Illini editorial

To the editors:
In an October 15th editorial entitled “GEO request: Good idea, rough timing,” the Daily Illini Editorial Board argued that while a living wage is wholly deserved, the current budget situation makes asking for it illogical. Respectfully, the GEO begs to differ.
While the editorial correctly evaluates the importance of Teaching Assistants (TAs) by noting [...]

history

The GEO has been organizing since the early 1990’s for democracy in the workplace, better education, increased stipends, better benefits, and other changes to make life as a Teaching, Research, or Graduate Assistant better.

Full Text of 2006-2009 TA/GA Contract

(signed 3/26/07)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ARTICLE I PURPOSE
ARTICLE II RECOGNITION
ARTICLE III NONDISCRIMINATION
STATEMENT
ARTICLE IV APPOINTMENT TERMS
ARTICLE V ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
ARTICLE VI EVALUATIONS
ARTICLE VII HOURS OF WORK
ARTICLE VIII USE OF UNIVERSITY
RESOURCES
ARTICLE IX MANAGEMENT RIGHTS
ARTICLE X EMPLOYEE RIGHTS
ARTICLE XI EXPENSES
ARTICLE XII DISTRIBUTION OF INFORMATION
ARTICLE XIII PERSONNEL FILES
ARTICLE XIV STIPENDS
ARTICLE XV HEALTH CARE
ARTICLE XVI DUES DEDUCTION AND
FAIR [...]

GEO budget

Explanation of the GEO Budget

Why do we pay the IFT, AFT, and AFL-CIO?
The GEO is part of the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the AFL-CIO. The money we pay to these organizations allows the GEO to utilize resources that are shared by all affiliated local unions. Examples of [...]

in the news

The News-Gazette
Graduate employees hold rally for higher pay
Published Online Dec 7, 2006
By Christine Des Garennes
With temperatures hovering around freezing and less than a week to go before final exams begin, University of Illinois graduate employees took a break from studying and grading Wednesday to rally on campus for higher pay.
The Graduate Employees’ Organization and the [...]

GEO and International Student Rights

Frequently Asked Questions
about International Students and the GEO

Here are some frequently asked questions that pertain to international
students. You can find more answers to questions like these on our FAQ
page. If you still have questions about the GEO or rights, contact
the geo at geo@uigeo.org or call us
at 344-8283. We’d be happy to talk with you about [...]

Information on Fees and Waivers

Many grads have been contacting the GEO office with concerns about their recent fee statements. This post is provided to help you understanding what’s going on with the recent issues related to grad employee pay, tuition waivers, health subsidies, family insurance premium increases, and hourly appointments.

FAQ

General Questions about GEO

What is the Graduate Employees’ Organization, and what are its goals?
Why should I join the GEO?
Who is allowed to be a member of the union?
Are there other universities with graduate employee unions?

Contract Questions

Did we already have the protections stipulated in the contract?
What do I do if the contract has been [...]

constitution

PREAMBLE
We, the members of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO), are committed to the principles of participatory democracy. Thus, as graduate employees at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (“the University”), we claim the right to participate in making decisions that affect our lives. This can only mean our bona fide representation in University governance. Formal [...]