Why Join GAU?
The union is only as strong as its members. Bigger unions make better contracts. In the past working conditions varied greatly per department or you had to rely on the goodwill of your professor. With a big union, GAU can negotiate the best possible working conditions for every GA/TA/RA on campus. That means issues like stipends, tuition waivers, improved healthcare, etc.
GAU has already accomplished many things such as increasing the minimum stipend, getting the University to pay for most of the health insurance, deferred payment on tuition, intellectual property rights, and the creation of a grievance process just to name a few. GAU is looking to do much more and for that we need your support!
What are the benefits of membership?
Members have a say in what issues the union spends more time/effort on (i.e. healthcare vs. stipends), members also have a say in what stance we take, GAU assistance when filing a grievance, as well as legal representation for issues falling within the contracts purview.
Since GAU is part of United Faculty of Florida (UFF) you are also members of larger national union bodies including the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO). Being a member brings special rates on insurance plans, mortgage loans, and other financial services (see AFT Member Benefits - http://www.aft.org/aftplus/index.htm).
The Universities Greatest Strength is in us not joining together!
Can I join a union without any fear of repercussions?
YES. In fact, the right to form a union is part of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948). Graduate employees have formed unions and bargained contracts at universities across the nation. It is against the law for the university (or any other employer) to discriminate or retaliate against you because you are a member of the union.
Will my union membership or union activity affect visa applications I might make in the future?
NO. It is against the law for the Immigration and Naturalization Service to ask you questions about your union membership, your legal union activities, or to take them into account in considering your visa application. IT IS NOT AGAINST THE LAW TO ASK A QUESTION ABOUT ALL ORGANIZATIONS TO WHICH YOU BELONG. THIS IS ASKED ON OUR CITIZENSHIP APPLICATION AND UNION MEMBERSHIP IS INCLUDED; IT CANNOT BE USED AGAINST YOU OR TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BUT IT IS ASKED.
