------------------------------------------------------------ Graduate Assistants United eNewsletter Vol. 3, No. 3, October 27, 2003 http://www.ufgau.org ------------------------------------------------------------ You are being sent this newsletter because GAU is your voice in employment matters as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Florida. ============================================================ IN THIS ISSUE: Campus Equity Week Demonstration Authorization Cards Online International Student Fee Challenged Bargaining/Organizing Survey GAU Happy Hour ============================================================ CAMPUS EQUITY WEEK DEMONSTRATION This Thursday, Oct. 30th, beginning at 1:00pm, GAU will hold a Campus Equity Week rally and demonstration on the Reitz Union North Lawn. The purpose of this event is to highlight the inequities that graduate assistants work under, both here at UF and throughout the country, If you have not yet signed an authorization card supporting our union, this event is a great time to do so; we will have a table set up to collect cards from 1:00-3:00pm. For more information about the event, authorization drive, and Campus Equity Week, visit the GAU website at: http://www.ufgau.org/ The rally flier is online http://www.ufgau.org/cew_03_flyer.pdf AUTHORIZATION CARDS ONLINE After over 20 years of negotiating with GAU, the University Administration is refusing to negotiate a new contract with GAU. They have agreed, though, to recognize GAU when we collect signed authorization cards from over 50% of the graduate assistants at UF. Authorization cards are now available online. Please download, print, sign,and return by campus mail. The sooner we have these cards, the sooner we can start negotiating a new contract. The authorization cards are available online at http://www.ufgau.org/authorization_card.pdf INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FEE CHALLENGED For those who remember last Fall, the University unilaterally imposed a $50 fee per semester (Fall and Spring) for International Students. This fee was imposed without a public hearing and was also imposed retroactively after the Fall semester already started. GAU has objected strenuously to this fee since its inception. Last Fall, GAU was the voice for 1,300 people who signed an online petition protesting this fee, and about 350 people who attended the protest rally at the Plaza of the Americas. GAU is now pursuing legal strategies, with the help of the union's legal staff, to either revoke this fee or at least force the University to hold a public hearing about the fee. The union legal staff has taken the first step to challenge this fee by sending a letter to the UF General Counsel's Office. This letter is available at: http://www.ufgau.org/fg/intlfee.pdf INTERNATIONAL STUDENT PETITION Since September 2001, International Students have had much more difficulty studying in the United States. In response to the growing difficulties facing international students, a coalition of labor and student groups has posted an online petition to urge National and University leaders to change several policies. Please take a minute to sign this online petition, and forward this link to your friends: http://www.visareform.net/ BARGAINING/ORGANIZING SURVEY Anticipating that we will soon collect the necessary authorization cards, the GAU Bargaining team has been meeting to prepare for upcoming negotiations with the University. This committee needs to know what your bargaining priorities are. There are also several survey items relating to the authorization card drive. You will soon receive a notice from us for an online survey. Please take 5 minutes of your time to complete this survey. GAU HAPPY HOUR The GAU Happy Hour is back by popular demand. Come meet and socialize with your fellow graduate assistants on Wednesdays, from 6 PM - 8 PM at the Shamrock, 1017 West University Avenue. The Shamrock is located within walking distance of much of campus, just a few blocks east of 13th Street on University Avenue. ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 GAU Co-President frank.goeddeke@cba.ufl.edu -----------------------------------------------------------------