GAU Is Here To Support You
As educators, we know this is an extremely challenging time. Colleagues around the world are scrambling to meet the needs of this unusual moment while looking out for their own health, their students, and their loved ones. GAU is committed to protecting graduate employees during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Below we have compiled advice and resources for graduate employees working during COVID-19. Remember to follow the advice of public health professionals, including to practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public.
Below we have compiled advice and resources for graduate employees working during COVID-19. Remember to follow the advice of public health professionals, including to practice social distancing and wear a face mask in public.
What are my rights and obligations as an employee?
To learn more about your right to safe working conditions versus your obligation to refrain from
“insubordination,” consult the memo below from our partner union: United Faculty of Florida (UFF).
“insubordination,” consult the memo below from our partner union: United Faculty of Florida (UFF).
How do I apply for accommodations due to my health?
The UF Office for Accessibility and Gender Equity is responsible for processing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accommodations for those with certain underlying medical conditions that put you at increased risk for severe illness. Information about workplace accommodations can be found here and accommodation request forms are available here.
ADA requests for accommodation may be made at any time, but the university is requesting documentation by October 19th for the purposes of spring course scheduling.
The Florida Education Association (FEA) has created a toolkit to assist members in obtaining reasonable accommodations under the ADA which have arisen due to COVID-19, available here.
GAU also highly recommends you register with the Disability Resource Center, since this the current way UF is determining certain COVID-related accommodations. Information on how graduate employees can connect with DRC to receive support services and accommodations can be found here.
ADA requests for accommodation may be made at any time, but the university is requesting documentation by October 19th for the purposes of spring course scheduling.
The Florida Education Association (FEA) has created a toolkit to assist members in obtaining reasonable accommodations under the ADA which have arisen due to COVID-19, available here.
GAU also highly recommends you register with the Disability Resource Center, since this the current way UF is determining certain COVID-related accommodations. Information on how graduate employees can connect with DRC to receive support services and accommodations can be found here.
If I do not want to/cannot teach face-to-face, but don’t qualify for ADA accommodations, do I have other options?
Yes. Graduate employees may qualify for emergency paid sick leave through the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act. Graduate employees are also entitled to six weeks of unpaid leave (but maintaining health care benefits) under certain circumstances. You can find more information about graduate employee leaves here.
What can I do?
1. Sign the UF Community Petition to reject the recent policy announcement of a move to partial face-to-face teaching for the spring 2021 semester.
2. Sign the State Petition to demand a safe reopening of our college and university campuses. For more information please visit the UFF state action website.
3. Contact Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to demand a safe reopening of our college and university campuses.
4. Contact UF President Kent Fuchs to demand reject the move to partial face-to-face teaching for the 2021
spring semester.
5. Provide a testimonial to demonstrate how this new policy will affect graduate employees.
6. Vote in the 2020 U.S. General Election.
7. Complete the 2020 U.S. Census before the end of October.
2. Sign the State Petition to demand a safe reopening of our college and university campuses. For more information please visit the UFF state action website.
3. Contact Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to demand a safe reopening of our college and university campuses.
- Call: (850) 717-9337
- Tweet @GovRonDeSantis with the hashtag: #StopTheDeSanity
4. Contact UF President Kent Fuchs to demand reject the move to partial face-to-face teaching for the 2021
spring semester.
- Call: (352) 392-1311
- Email: president@ufl.edu
- Tweet @PresidentFuchs with the hashtags:
- #SolidarityNotAusterity
- #ChopFromTheTop
- #UFWorksBecauseWeDo
5. Provide a testimonial to demonstrate how this new policy will affect graduate employees.
6. Vote in the 2020 U.S. General Election.
- Read GAU's Voter Guide, which has frequently asked questions, important dates, and links to voting information.
- “A Voting Guide for the UF Community” by UF Libraries
- Alachua County residents: check your voter registration, request or check status of your vote by mail ballot, find polling places, and sign up to be a poll worker at votealachua.com.
- Outside of Alachua County: register to vote, request or check status of your vote by mail ballot, find polling places, and sign up to be a poll worker at vote.org.
7. Complete the 2020 U.S. Census before the end of October.
HOW GAU PROTECTS GRADUATE EMPLOYEES
After months of negotiation, GAU reached and graduate employees ratified a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with UF's administration that includes important protections for GAs during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
We bargained over the effects of UF's instructions to graduate employees, including but not limited to: physical and mental safety, family and child care, access to buildings, materials, and resources, availability of Graduate and Family Housing, compensation for increased work, and COVID-19 testing. Read the memorandum of understanding.
We bargained over the effects of UF's instructions to graduate employees, including but not limited to: physical and mental safety, family and child care, access to buildings, materials, and resources, availability of Graduate and Family Housing, compensation for increased work, and COVID-19 testing. Read the memorandum of understanding.
