------------------------------------------------------------ Graduate Assistants United eNewsletter Vol. 2, No. 9, April 28, 2003 http://www.ufgau.org ------------------------------------------------------------ You are being sent this newsletter because GAU represents you in employment matters as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Florida. ============================================================ IN THIS ISSUE: Suspension of Recognition Threatens Union, Contract Tuition Waivers in Jeopardy International Student Health Insurance University Board of Trustees Presentation Post Doc Insurance Problems ============================================================ SUSPENSION OF RECOGNITION THREATENS UNION, CONTRACT The University administration, suspending official recognition of GAU as the union representing graduate assistants, refuses to negotiate with GAU over a successor agreement to our 2001-2003 contract. The administration claims that the reorganization of the state university system, which resulted in our employer nominally changing from the state-wide Board of Regents to the UF-specific Board of Trustees, voids their legal obligation to continue bargaining with our union. As a result, our union, our contract, and all of our hard-won collective bargaining gains are in jeopardy. GAU strenuously objects to what we regard as an illegal withdrawal of recognition for our union. We have, however, convinced the administration to restore official recognition to GAU upon our demonstrating that a majority of graduate assistants want our union to remain in place. We are therefore initiating a campaign to have graduate assistants sign Collective Bargaining Authorization Cards, which state that we want GAU to continue representing us in negotiations with the university. Signing these cards will ensure that the university cannot unilaterally change or dictate the terms of our employment, so we can hold on to what we've won in over 20 years of representing graduate assistants. At the same time, we are launching a parallel campaign to build membership, so that when we return to the table we do so with the strength to make dramatic improvements. To find out how you can sign an authorization card in order to protect our right to union representation, contact your department steward or call the GAU office at 392-0274. Also call the union office to learn more about how you can help with the campaign to defend our union and push for a new contract. TUITION WAIVERS IN JEOPARDY University Provost David Colburn has issued a new policy that states that "out-of-state tuition waivers will only be available to out-of-state graduate assistants, who are U.S. citizens, for their first year of attendance." The memo describing the new tuition waiver policy can be viewed at: http://www.admin.ufl.edu/ddd/default.asp?doc=8.10.1409.8 This new policy constitutes a unilateral change to the negotiated agreement on tuition waivers in our union contract, and could result in real hardships for many graduate assistants from out- of-state. While GAU supports any program or policy that facilitates out-of-state graduate assistants achieving residency for the purposes of lowering the cost of their tuition and fees, we are deeply concerned that the Provost's policy is potentially punitive. Rather than addressing the barriers to or process of graduate assistants' achieving Florida residency, the policy simply asserts that those who fail to achieve residency by their second year will be forced to pay out-of-pocket for their out-of- state tuition costs. Moreover, GAU stands firm in our contention that any change to our contract must be negotiated, and that the University cannot impose new policies on tuition waivers without graduate assistants being represented in the decision. If the Provost's new policy could create a financial hardship for you, please reply to this email with details of how this change would affect you. All replies are treated confidentially. We need to know all the details of the potential consequences of this policy for graduate assistants. For more information on tuition waivers, consult our contract on- line at: http://www.ufgau.org/2001contract.shtml INTERNATIONAL STUDENT INSURANCE In response to our discussions with University administrators, and our recent presentation to the University Board of Trustees, the UF International Center now provides international students with the names of several insurance companies where international students can buy their required health insurance. Formerly, the International Center provided international students with only one insurance option, unless the student was very persistent in asking about other options. GAU is now aggressively working to restore payroll deduction as an optional payment method for international graduate assistants to purchase health insurance. We see no reason why a graduate assistant must pay for insurance in the Spring, in order to register for Fall classes, when the starting date of the insurance is not until the Fall. Domestic graduate assistants are currently able to purchase health insurance via payroll deduction, and GAU contends that the relevant contract provision should apply to international GAs as well. UNIVERSITY BOARD OF TRUSTEES PRESENTATION At the most recent Board of Trustees meeting, GAU made the Board aware of several issues that affect graduate assistants. These issues are: * Current University cost estimates to achieve competitiveness for GAs at UF are grossly underestimated * $50/semester fee for international graduate assistants is not fair, when considering other employees of the University are not charged this fee * The UF International Center should let international graduate assistants know of all their insurance options, not just insurance from one company only * The proposed Technology Fee should not apply to GAs, who need the technology to do their jobs for the University * The University should join us in lobbying the State Legislature to pass a bill that would grant in-state residency to all graduate assistants, including international graduate assistants POST DOC INSURANCE PROBLEMS This past year, the university announced that post-docs would be given health insurance. However, we have been made aware of several problems with this new policy: * Many post docs were reclassified in a special post doc classification that does not allow for health benefits * The insurance provided does not meet the requirements for international post docs, who must still buy insurance in addition to that provided by the University * Some post docs were told the University's contribution (approximately $3,000 - $6,000 per year) will be deducted from their salary, in addition to the regular individual premium of about $500 per year * At least one professor has stated that he will not hire married post docs in the future, because post docs with families cost more to insure The post docs do not have a union contract to protect them, and our hope is that with a strong union, GAU can prevent these kinds of implementation problems when graduate assistants are provided health benefits. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -----------------------------------------------------------------