Graduate Employees' Organization at UIUC
GEO Local 6300 IFT/AFT AFL-CIO at The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bylaws

Bylaws

The Graduate Employees’ Organization considers and votes on constitutional bylaws at general membership meetings. GEO members passed the following bylaws in accordance with Article XV of the GEO constitution.

BY-LAW CONCERNING INTERPERSONAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION (passed 13 April 2005)

This bylaw will provide for a method of interpersonal conflict resolution, to be binding upon union officers and staff.
Within one month from the date of passage of this bylaw, the co-presidents of the Graduate Employees’ Organization will choose three individuals to sit on a committee to draft a set of recommendations regarding interpersonal conflict resolution. The committee shall consist of: one past GEO officer who is not currently a member of the coordinating committee, one GEO member who is not currently a member of the coordinating committee, and one faculty member of the University of Illinois. These appointments must be ratified by the coordinating committee, also within one month of the passage of this bylaw.

Within three months of the ratification of the committee members, the committee shall present a conflict resolution policy that may include, but is not limited to, recommendations regarding conflict management training, a method for mediating interpersonal conflict between officers and/or staff members, and for measures to prevent interpersonal conflicts before or after mediation.
Upon submission of this policy, the Stewards Council will have one month to either ratify, amend, or reject the policy. If the policy is amended by the Stewards Council, it must be returned to the committee for approval before ratification. In the event that the Stewards Council rejects the policy, or is unable to ratify a policy within two months of the original submission date, the remaining provisions of this bylaw shall become null and void.

Upon ratification of the policy, it shall become immediately binding on all current and future members of the GEO coordinating committee.
Within two months of adoption of the policy by the coordinating committee, the personnel committee will negotiate with the GEO staff union upon implementation of the policy in a form that will be binding upon GEO staff. Amendments to the policy as it applies to staff that arise from this negotiation must be ratified by the Stewards Council.

BY-LAW CONCERNING THE ENDORSEMENT OF CANDIDATES FOR UNIVERSITY-WIDE OR DEPARTMENTAL OFFICE. (passed 13 April 2005)

I. The Stewards’ Council (SC) of the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) may resolve to formally endorse a candidate for university-wide or department office. This includes, but is not limited to candidates for Board of Trustees, Student Senate, and Departmental Committees.

II. The procedure for bringing a resolution concerning the endorsement of a candidate for university-wide or department office is as follows:

  1. One or more GEO members (the “Sponsor”) must sponsor the candidate and the resolution to endorse him or her. The Sponsor begins the endorsement process by appearing before the Stewards’ Council (SC) to express this intent. The SC meeting at which the resolution is voted on must occur at least seven (7) days after the Sponsor gives notice to the SC.

  2. After being notified of the Sponsor’s intent, the SC and Coordinating
    Committee (CC) have a period of fourteen (14) days to request documents from and meetings with the Sponsor or the candidate.

  3. Members must be informed of the resolution at least seven (7) days
    prior a vote at the SC by email or other mass communication.

  4. The Sponsor and the candidate may speak at the SC meeting where the vote will occur. Additionally, GEO members and the CC may inform the SC of their recommendations. Unless a roll call vote (as described in the SC bylaws) is called during the SC meeting, all members present at the SC meeting will be allowed to vote.

BYLAW CONCERNING CREATION OF AN ELECTIONS COMMITTEE (passed 13 April 2005)

  1. The Stewards Council, in line with the constitution, will appoint an elections committee consisting of a chairperson and at least two other people. Appointment will either be for a fixed term, not to exceed one year, or for the duration of a specific ballot or ballots. Reappointment will be possible.

  2. Where there is a single vacancy for any office each voter will indicate a preference for a single candidate. The candidate with the most votes will be declared successful.

  3. Where there are several vacancies for a single office, such as perhaps for At Large Officers, each voter will indicate a preference for the same number of candidates as there are positions vacant. The candidates with the most votes will be declared successful.

  4. All ballot measures that fall under the purview of the elections committee, other than elections as outlined above, will require a response of the form YES/NO or ACCEPT/DO NOT ACCEPT.

  5. The Chair of the elections committee will co-ordinate the activities of the committee and shall be the person who will announce the official results of elections to the Coordinating Committee and Stewards Council. Results may be announced via email.

BYLAW CONCERNING GEO MEMBER DUES (passed July 27, 2004 and amended February 25, 2014)

The Coordinating Committee shall be authorized to set dues between the minimum level mandated by the American Federation of Teachers’ constitution and two percent (2%) of wages.