The Graduate Employees Organization is the labor union representing over 1,500 Teaching and Graduate Assistants at UIC. We are affiliated with the Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and the AFL-CIO.

As a labor union GEO has two chief functions:

• Bargaining: We negotiate a contract with the university that governs TA and GA wages, workloads, benefits, and much more. You can review our current contract here. We are currently negotiating a side letter that will extend the contract to RAs, and will be renegotiating our full contract soon. Feel free to reach out to ra-bargaining-comm@uicgeo.org to discuss the former or bargaining-comm@uicgeo.org to discuss the latter.

• Grievances: We represent TAs and GAs in disputes with their employers and when their rights have been violated in the workplace. If you’re facing discipline, are being mistreated by your employer, or simply want to talk through something somewhat off about your employment, please reach out to grievance@uicgeo.org immediately.

We also organize graduate workers to collective action when other recourses fail.

GEO is a democratic union. Its central leadership, the Steering Committee, is composed of volunteer grad workers elected from the membership each year. The Steering Committee handles all of the day-to-day operations and decision-making of the union. They are supported by the Stewards Council, a body of representatives from the various departments on campus, and a collection of committees all composed of grad worker volunteers.

GEO is its members; your input is not only welcome, it is necessary to our mission. Email us at geo@uicgeo.org to get involved!