State of the Union, AY 2023-2024

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.