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.

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 [...]

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 .

The GEO works to find common ground among all graduate employees, regardless of race, gender, religion, disability, sexual orientation, citizenship status, department, job category, or membership in the union. Membership in the GEO is, and will remain, voluntary.
The GEO strives to be inclusive and open to all graduate employees, operate along democratic principles, act always [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 .