FALL 2004 (ARCHIVED) You are being sent this newsletter because GAU represents you in employment matters as a Graduate Assistant at the University of Florida. If you have recently graduated or ceased being a Graduate assistant, you will automatically be removed from this mailing List t the start of the Spring semester. ============================================================ IN THIS ISSUE: New Contract Healthcare Survey/Committee International Fee Campaign Fall Social 1. New Contract At the beginning of the Fall semester, following GAU’s successful recertification, GAU negotiated a contract that guarantees our rights as workers for the 2004-2005 academic year. Among some of the improvements over our last contract (which can be viewed online at www.ufgau.org): * a guarantee that all returning graduate assistants will now be considered in-state residents for the purposes of tuition (thus saving numerous out-of-state and international graduate assistants hundreds of dollars in semester fees) * a 2.8% pay increase for all returning graduate teaching and research assistants (The 2005-2006 Tentative Agreement is for 3.6%) and * contractual language that guarantees a university-financed subsidy towards health insurance for all graduate teaching and research assistants. (The 2005-2006 health stipend was increased to $500 from just $0 two years before) GAU expects to begin the next round of contract negotiations in February and March of 2005. This is your opportunity to have a voice in the conditions of your employment! If you’d like to be on the bargaining committee that represents GAU at the bargaining table, please contact Victor Romano, GAU Co-President, at Ver479@yahoo.com 2. Healthcare Survey/Committee One of the issues upon which GAU expects to negotiate at that next round of bargaining is the issue of comprehensive healthcare for all graduate teaching and research assistants. (Fall 2004 Archived) As you already know, this last academic year, after GAU had been fighting for healthcare for GAs at UF for over 20 years, the University Administration finally moved to give a $400 subsidy toward the student healthcare plan, contracted with Scarborough Insurance. Last month, GAU posted a web survey in order to identify the healthcare needs of the graduate workers on this campus. As of right now, we have roughly 1000 responses and comments on the University Healthcare Plan and what plans would best benefit the graduate students here. If you have not taken the survey yet or know of other graduate assistants who have not yet completed the survey, that survey may be found at www.ufgau.org. The survey will remain online for the duration of the Fall Semester. However, in order to tabulate the data and prepare for the negotiations, GAU will take the survey down early in the Spring Semester. If you would like to be part of the team that helps research healthcare plans and negotiates with the administration on this issue, please contact either Victor Romano or Todd Reynolds, GAU Co-President, at todd@ufgau.org. 3. International Fee Campaign After two years of fighting the International Student Fee, a discriminatory $50 per semester fee that the University of Florida charges to all international students so that the University Administration may be in compliance with certain federal regulations, GAU reports more progress in this field. GAU has circulated a petition signed by over one thousand students, staged two major protests against this fee, and now has enlisted the help of Student Government against this fee that other institutions of higher education, such as the University of Chicago, the University of Texas at Austin, the University of Massachusetts, and the University of Wisconsin have found prejudicial against their international communities. In the final days of the semester, UF Student Senate will be considering two measures against this so-called “service charge” levied against the international community at UF. On Tuesday, November 30, 7:30pm in the Reitz Union room 282, Student Senate will be considering an official resolution on the $50 per semester international student fee. The resolution presents the findings of a special committee commissioned by SG President Jamal Sowell to research the fee, and concludes that the University Administration should stop charging the $50 per semester fee. On Tuesday, December 7, 7:30pm in the Reitz Union room 282, Student Senators will propose a bill that may result in the discontinuance of that $50 per semester fee. Both events are open to the public and ask for public commentary on the proposed solutions. If we stand together in unison against this fee, we (Fall 2004 Archived) may be able to overturn it here. Both meetings will be important to attend if you are interested in fighting this fee, so if you are able to come, please do so. 4. Fall Social To celebrate the end of a successful (if eventful) semester, GAU has planned its Fall Social to be on Thursday, December 9 at Jet Set (in the Hippodrome Plaza), beginning around 7 and lasting until 10. The Social is being co-sponsored by Custom Copies, so not only is there no cover, but there will be plenty of free treats including keg beer, wine, and various snacks. From 7-10, GAU has reserved Jet Set just for this function; Jet Set opens to the general public at 10, but GAs can stay for no cover charge.Come join your fellow GAs and co-workers to celebrate a successful completion to this tumultuous semester. In Solidarity, Todd Reynolds GAU Co-President ----------------------------------------------------------------- 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 organizing@ufgau.org. ----------------------------------------------------------------- --