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Graduate Assistants United
eNewsletter Vol. 2, No. 4, November 1, 2002
http://www.ufgau.org
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You are being sent this newsletter because GAU represents you in
employment matters as a Graduate Assistant at the University of
Florida.  

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IN THIS ISSUE:
Support the International Students!
1,300 Graduate Assistants not getting contractual pay raise!
Elections November 5th
Contract Ratification Vote
Infirmary billing
Contract - Full story - Rumor control
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*** SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS!
This year, the International Students at UF have had it tough.
A 20% increase in tuition, a $50 per semester "terrorism tax",
an increase in health insurance premiums, a decrease in
health insurance coverage, and no longer being able to stay
in the country while taking 9 credits.  36% of graduate assistants
at the University are international students.  GAU is supporting
the cause of international students at UF by sponsoring a
rally on November 13th, at 1:15 in the Plaza of the Americas.
Please participate in what is probably going to be the biggest
rally on campus since the Vietnam War demonstrations.  In the
meantime, there is an online petition on the GAU website:
http://www.ufgau.org/petition/shtml  Please show your support
by signing the online petition, and forwarding the link to
all your family and friends.  Dr. Gerhardt, the Associate Dean
of the Graduate School, asked us to include in our eNewsletter
a letter that President Young wrote addressing our concerns.  
This letter is pasted at bottom of this eNewsletter.  Dr. Jett, 
Dean of the International Center, is expected to send an email 
to all international students soon to address these same concerns.
So far, we have had over 600 people sign the online petition.
Take the time to sign it NOW and show your support for your fellow
students.  And forward the link to your family and friends.

*** 1,300 GRADUATE ASSISTANTS NOT GETTING CONTRACTUAL PAY RAISE!
All graduate assistants who are meeting their required performance
standards were supposed to get a 2.5% pay increase on October 1.
Unfortunately, the administration did not give the pay raise
to approximately 1,300 graduate assistants at UF.  We think that
they did not give the raise to anyone who was not working as a
graduate assistant at UF last year, even though ALL graduate assistants
are contractually eligible.  GAU is working with the administration
to resolve this issue, and we are hoping we can resolve this
without resorting to filing a formal grievance.  Nevertheless,
we are preparing to file the grievance if need be.  You can help
us by SAVING YOUR PAY STUBS.  We may need you at a later time to
make copies of your pay stubs for us.  In the meantime, you should
have received a raise on your last paycheck.  A list in .pdf format
of all the graduate assistants we think did not get their pay raise
is posted online at http://www.ufgau.org/noraise.pdf
If you did not get your pay raise effective October 1 and your name
is not on the list, please contact us ASAP.

*** ELECTIONS NOVEMBER 5
Please VOTE on November 5th.  Voting is a very personal decision,
and we encourage you to vote your conscience.  You may, however, be
interested to know that the Florida Education Association and the
United Faculty of Florida have endorsed Bill McBride for Governor,
and are suppoting a YES vote for all the education ballot proposals.
These organizations have have researched the issues and feel that 
these votes best support education and organized labor in the State.  
You are free, however, to vote for whomever and whatever you wish, 
and we strongly encourage you to do so.  But do vote.

*** CONTRACT RATIFICATION VOTE
The contract has been ratified, with 99.5% voting FOR ratification,
and 0.5% voting AGAINST.  Thank you to all those who took the time
from their busy day to come out and vote.

*** INFIRMARY BILLING
A complaint has been brought to our attention that when you use
the ancillary services at the Infirmary (prescriptions, lab tests,
etc.), you receive a bill that only shows the total amount to pay,
the bill does not include an itemization of charges.  The reason is
that the University Finance and Accounting Office is the office that
sends the bill, and the Infirmary is prevented by law from disclosing
your medical information to them.  So you only get a total amount, with
no itemization.  You can request an itemization of your charges by
asking the Student Health Care Center cashier, or any Medical Team 
Secretary.

*** CONTRACT - FULL STORY - RUMOR CONTROL
There have been many rumors lately regarding our recently
ratified contract.  The following is a more detailed summary
that hopefully will set the record straight.  At no time
during negotiations (or any time, for that matter) did the
administration put health benefits on the table, and at
no time did GAU turn down an offer for health benefits.
Last year, we were late to start our negotiations.  This
was typical of the other unions who negotiate with the
State as well.  The reason for getting a late start was
the problems the State legislature had last year getting
a budget passed.  The State Board of Education did not feel
it appropriate to negotiate until it had a better idea of
what it could negotiate with.  We finally did begin negotiations
in the Spring last year.  We declared impasse when the State
failed to put health insurance on the table, failed to offer 
to raise the minimum stipend, and failed to offer a cost of
living increase.  I believe every other union that negotiates
with the State declared impasse as well.  Normally, the first 
step after declaring impasse is a Special Master hearing, which 
is a form of non-binding arbitration.  However, because we were 
so late getting started with our negotiations, there was no time
for us to schedule a Special Master hearing, and still have time
to take our case to the Legislature, the next step after the
Special Master.  So we waived our right to a Special Master and
took our case directly to the Florida Legislature.  This was
typical for the other unions negotiating with the State as well.
The Florida legislature declared that to resolve the impasse,
current language would be retained (with the exception of the
new language the parties already agreed to) and that we would not 
get health benefits, there would be no raise in the minimum 
stipend, and we would all get a 2.5% cost of living raise.  We
could have ratified the agreement last Spring, as soon as the
legislature resolved our impasse.  But the State negotiator 
felt that UF really wanted to make us an offer with health benefits.
So, we waited for UF to make an offer of health benefits.
Unfortunately, no offer came.  However, because there was no other
reason for UF or the State to delay ratification, we do believe
that UF was very close to putting health benefits on the table.
We believe an offer is still forthcoming, after the results of the
November elections (the Gubernatorial race and the Graham Amendment,
especially) are in, and there is more certainty over what is going
to happen when the State devolves more authority to the UF Board of
Trustees January 7th.  In any event, in early October we felt it
was time to stop waiting for an offer of health benefits, and go
ahead and ratify our agreement.  The University is still free to bring
health benefits to us any time, there is a provision to modify our
existing contract.  On the plus side for ratification, we saw greater
legal standing to continue our old contract after the Board of Trustees
takes over on January 7th, a contractual guarantee for our 2.5% pay
increase, a special consultation with the President each semester to
discuss health benefits issues, a contractual guarantee for employees
on contracts and grants to recieve the pay increase, and more rapid
contractual reports provided to GAU.  If we did not ratify this 
agreement, the only thing we would get is a 2.5% pay increase, with
no contractual guarantee it would not be taken away from us later.
So that is why, paradoxically, GAU leadership recommended ratification
of this agreement, even though GAU leadership was the first to declare
impasse originally because it did not include health benefits or an 
increase in the minimum stipend.  This information has all been
presented in bits and pieces over the course of the last year, in
the GAU eNews, GAU membership meetings, etc.  However, a complaint
has been brought to our attention that this information was not
presented in one concise summary before the contract ratification
vote.  In the future, we hope to hold public debates, where people
can ask questions and debate the pros and cons of contract ratification,
before our next contract ratification vote, whenever that may be.
Critical debate is essential in order to help us acheive what is best for
us.  We are also looking for volunteers to help in the bargaining process,
people who are good with making complex spreadsheets, can reasearch
health insurance issues, or can assist in the face-to-face negotiation
process at the bargaining table.  Please contact the Bargaining Chair,
Frank Goeddeke frank.goeddeke@cba.ufl.edu

*** PRESIDENT YOUNG'S LETTER:
Dear International Students,

Thank you very much for taking the time to write a letter expressing your
concerns. The increased financial burden placed on International Students
has been significant. I realize the changes have come about abruptly and
without ample time for you to prepare financially. Several changes occurred
just prior to the beginning of Fall semester and this made it impossible to
inform students in as timely manner as desirable. I will address each of
your concerns. Unfortunately I do not have solutions but will try to provide
some explanations and clarifications.


1. Full time status. The Federal Regulations state that an International
Student must be a full time student. The regulations state that full time is
determined by institutional policy. This is not a new regulation. UF has
always considered 12 credit hours as full time for a graduate student who is
not on assistantship. This is not a new rule. The difference for you as
International Students and for UF is that Federal Regulations now require
all educational institutions who host International Students to report to
INS any international student sponsored by UF who is not full time according
to stated institutional guidelines. UF has no policy stating that students
must be full time. It is only International Students who must meet the INS
requirement to maintain visa status. In reporting to meet Federal
Regulations, UF is required to follow stated institutional policy.   The
Provost's office is aware of the clash between practice and policy and the
financial impact on students which strict adherence to the policy would
impose. This issue is being looked at and evaluated.

2. International Student Service Charge. This is a service charge that was
necessitated by state budget constraints. The University of Florida has in
the past fully funded all special services for International Students. With
high demand on limited budget dollars, it was determined that it was
necessary to implement a service charge in order to maintain current
services and to meet the requirements of new Federal reporting guidelines.
No one at UF was pleased with the necessity of a service charge but it is
the reality of limited budget. The International Center is in the process of
purchasing new software programs and hiring staff in order to be compliant
with the new Federal reporting guidelines. UF is honored by the privilege
granted to us by the Federal Government of hosting International Students
and will continue to carefully meet all Federal Guidelines to maintain this
privilege. The International Center cares deeply about International
Students and is making every effort to provide quality services.

3. Tuition increase. Again, this increase was necessitated by tight budget
constraints. I think you will find, however, as you compare tuition costs
across the nation that UF is a very good buy. While you did face a 20%
increase in tuition, tuition at UF is remains low when compared with other
institutions of similar quality.

4. Student Health Insurance. The International Center became aware of the
change in services at the Infirmary through student reports. The benefits
provided in the Student Government approved policy changed this year in
several ways. The changes are stated in your policy. However, there is no
clear statement about the charges at the infirmary that I am aware of at
this time. There will be a meeting next Friday between the Infirmary, UFIC
and the Vice President for Finance and Administration to discuss the
process. Student Government is currently beginning the process of
negotiating next year's policy. The current policy became effective on
August 14, 2002 and will terminate on August 14th, 2003.

As soon as the International Center learns of any changes in any of the
above areas, we will inform all International Students. Again, thank you for
taking the time to state your concerns. UF is striving to provide excellent
education and excellent student services for all students. I assure you UF
appreciates and values the contributions of International Students.

Charles E. Young


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You are being sent this email because Graduate Assistants United represents
you in University employment matters.  If you would like to be added to the 
list, please send an email to frank.goeddeke@cba.ufl.edu
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