Graduate assistants are employees, and are entitled to rights and benefits because of that status. The organization that negotiates and protects those rights and benefits is GAU. Graduate Assistants United is your labor union, made up entirely of Teaching Assistants and Research Assistants at the Univeristy of Florida. GAU is not a club, and not an advisory council. GAU is your voice on employment issues at the University of Florida. It is a legally recognized union which negotiates the Collective Bargaining Agreement with the Univeristy of Florida administration. The CBA is the contract that protects you as an employee.

In 1976, a group of graduate workers from a wide spectrum of disciplines at the University of Florida organized to gain improvements in graduate employee working conditions.

• In 1980, the graduate assistants at UF officially voted for GAU to be their labor union and voice of representation in employment matters at UF.
• In 1986, GAU successfully negotiated tuition waivers for graduate employees.
• In 2003, 4,000 of your co-workers reaffirmed GAU as the labor union that represents graduate employees
• In 2005, GAU successfully fought for the removal of the $50 international student fee.