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Graduate Assistants United at UF
  • About
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YOur NEXT CONTRACT

Notes from a Co-President

​Thank you for your interest in GAU and preservation of our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)! The CBA is a binding contract between your labor representatives (GAU) and the employer (University) that establishes wages, terms, and conditions of GA employment. Every year, GAU has bargained for improvements in GA working conditions. In order to effectuate any changes to our wages, terms, and conditions of employment, GAs must ratify the agreements reached by GAU and the University. Normally, GAU is limited to Article 10 negotiations. This means that GAU can seek to modify wages and fee relief every year but not other issues unless the University mutually agrees to do so. However, every three years we have "full book" negotiations,  meaning all items in the contract were negotiable. These will occur in the 2023-2024 academic year.
Article 10

​After over 10 months of bargaining and multiple actions, we secured the most expensive package ever negotiated by UF-GAU and our first increase to the minimum stipend in over 5 years.

While we recognize that this increase is not enough to cover for five years of inflation and significant increases to the average cost of living in Gainesville, we are proud of how hard the Bargaining and Organizing Committees worked to secure a wage increase for all GAs.

We will be opening Article 10 (Stipend) Bargaining again this Fall and our first offer will be a minimum stipend that covers ​the cost of living in Gainesville, FL - a city that has now reached the top 25% most expensive cities in the United States.
Article 8
This Fall, we opened negotiations with UF concerning paid leave for GAs. Previously GAs were only guaranteed 5 days of paid leave and six weeks of unpaid leave per semester. After just three bargaining session, we tentatively agreed to eight weeks of paid leave for graduate assistants for family or medical leave. This is a huge win that has been a priority for UF-GAU for years!

​If you have any questions about ratification, negotiations, or any of the article breakdowns below, please do not hesitate to contact GAU at 
organizing@ufgau.org or via office hours.

RACHEL HARTNETT, Co-President

Tentative Agreements

Article 8: Paid Leave (2022-2023 Academic Year)
Text
Article 10: Stipends (2021-2022 Academic Year)
Text

Next Steps

Once GAU and the University reach a tentative agreement on portions of the CBA, these articles are subject to ratification by all graduate employees. If each receives a majority vote, it is officially ratified and becomes part of our collective bargaining agreement.

Who can vote?

ALL GRADUATE EMPLOYEES, regardless of GAU membership, are eligible to vote and encouraged to do so.

When is ratification?

Monday, November 14th from 10 AM to 1 PM in Turlington Plaza
Tuesday, November 15th from 10 AM to 1 PM in the Reitz Union Breezeway

How do I vote?

Bring a photo ID to the voting location. You will sign the membership list to ensure each GA only votes once. You will then be given an anonymous ballot. Ballots will be counted at 1 PM each day at the voting site.

Voting Results

​Final results were announced during our Payday Party on Friday, November 18th, at 6 PM and simultaneously posted on social media.

Final Results

Monday, November 14th, 10 AM to 1 PM, Turlington Plaza
          Article 8: 27 Yes; 0 No
          Article 10: 27 Yes; 0 No

Tuesday, November 15th, 10 AM to 1 PM, Reitz Union
          Article 8: 38 Yes; 0 No
          Article 10: 37 Yes; 0 No

TOTAL:
          Article 8: 65 Yes; 0 No
          Article 10: 64 Yes; No

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​You can check out our latest bargaining sessions on YouTube!
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Connect with GAU
organizing@ufgau.org

Mailing Address
PO Box 112014
Gainesville, Florida 32611

Physical Address
Yon Hall 224
1908 Stadium Road
Gainesville, Florida 32611


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Copyright © 2002-21 Graduate Assistants United at the University of Florida. All rights reserved. Affiliated with United Faculty of Florida, Florida Education Association, National Education Association, American Federation of Teachers, and AFL-CIO.
  • About
    • Our History
    • Why Labor Unions?
    • Budget and Procedures
    • FAQs
    • Executive Committee
    • Constitution & Bylaws
  • Our Contract
    • Collective Bargaining Agreement
    • Health Insurance
    • Bargaining Blog
    • Contract FAQ
    • Contract Enforcement
  • Advocacy
    • Fee Relief
    • Family & Child Care
    • Health & Dental Care
    • Mental Health
    • Graduate Housing
    • Racial Equity
    • Legislative Efforts
    • Higher Education >
      • Graduate Employee Unions
    • Local Labor Issues
  • Take Action
    • Becoming a Member
    • Committees
    • Caucuses
    • Department Stewards
    • Events Calendar
    • Senators and Delegates
    • Support Groups
  • Members
    • Partner Unions
    • Member Benefits >
      • Hardship Fund
    • Exploring Gainesville
  • HB7
  • Contact Us
    • Office Hours
    • Media Room >
      • News Stories
      • Press Releases
    • Partner With Us
    • Changing Your Membership
  • Resources
    • Hardship Fund
    • UF-GAU Accessibility Aid Rental Program
    • Weekly Food Deals
  • Undergraduate Solidarity