State of the Union, AY 2023-2024
May 3rd, 2024
GEO works for the members, and we're proud of the work we've done this year. Here are some highlights from the 2023-2024 academic year!
Organizing:
Unionized the Research Assistants! RAs voted unanimously to unionize, 422 RAs signed the petition to unionize, and 335 grad workers signed membership cards.
Hired Christianna as a full-time organizer! She brings experience, energy, and momentum to GEO’s campaigns, and has signed a 3-year contract to continue this work!
Implemented text-banking and phone-banking capabilities to keep members connected.
Counted over 700 new followers to our social media accounts!
Engaged over 50 members to participate in organizing (e.g. tabling and phone-banking).
Created a Department Steward’s guide to help orient new stewards.
Grievances:
Brought a grievance about summer CampusCare access to arbitration.
Fought a non-progressive discipline case and got a TA his job back.
Helped a grad worker exercise his rights to religious holidays.
Protected an international student’s job when he was unable to return to the US.
Helped an assistant resolve an overwork case.
Resolved inappropriate CampusCare billing.
Filed 7 FOIA requests, 6 Information Requests, and a ULP around the university providing research assistant data to the union.
International grad workers:
Provided a free legal clinic and “Know Your Rights” training for international grads.
Translated our orientation materials into Urdu and Mandarin.
Printed “Weingarten Rights” cards in multiple world languages, and distributed them to relevant cultural centers. These reaffirm that workers can bring their union representatives to disciplinary meetings.
Finances:
Recovered over $60,000 in funds from our statewide parent union, IFT.
Compiled a list of hardship resources for members with financial need.
Reduced dues from 2.4% to 2.2%, returning more money to members’ pockets.
Confirmed that GEO’s money is not invested in international governments or militaries.
Community:
Tallied 250 total participants in GEO events throughout the year, including the GMMs, Caucuses, “Know Your Rights” trainings, and election launch meetings.
Passed three member-drafted proposals at General Member Meetings.
Hosted caucus events for international and disabled grad workers. Members were compensated to come together, build community, and share feedback with the union.
Launched a discord server for GEO members and leaders to build community and connect around shared goals and interests.
Hosted a variety of social events: an after-party for successfully unionizing the RAs, Halloween crafting, a cookie swap, a clothing swap, and a solidarity-inclusion field trip to the Chicago Cultural Center.