Fellow workers,

We are writing to announce that there are positions that need to be filled in GEO leadership. Nominations are now open for 1 GEO Co-Chair and 1 Bargaining Committee member! Please see below for the nomination call for these positions, including information about the position and the nomination/election process for that position. Any full member in good standing may nominate themselves or another member in good standing for any of these positions. The deadline for nominations with candidate statements is Friday, June 7, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.

This election will take place electronically, due to the summer scheduling. Voting will conclude at an open Elections Committee Meeting—June 25, 2024 at 12:00pm ET. Results will be announced in that meeting. Times, dates, and modality for alternative voting will be announced closer to the actual election.

Nominations are now open for:

• 1 GEO Co-chair (20-hour contract, 52 weeks)

• 1 Bargaining Organizing & Mobilization Coordinator (10-hour contract, through end of term when bargaining concludes)

DETAILS REGARDING ELECTION of CO-CHAIR (From the GEO bylaws)

• Article 9, Section 6: “In the event that stewards vote “No,” on one or both of the candidates, the nominations process will be extended, and stewards will aggressively recruit nominees for the elected positions. The elections process will then repeat.”

Per this bylaw, the Elections Committee is repeating the election process by opening up the call for nominations for GEO Co-Chair.

DETAILS REGARDING POSITIONS (from the GEO bylaws)
GEO Co-chairs (1)

Responsibilities will include but are not limited to: organizing and overseeing the election of Stewards in departments and/or work sites; chairing Steering Committee meetings and general membership meetings and ensuring agendas are set for both; and acting as primary GEO representatives to the Joint Council of Local 2322 and therefore attending Joint Council meetings. Except where otherwise noted, the co-chairs shall be considered to be the official representatives of GEO to the Administration and in all external relations; sign agreements between GEO and the University (with approval of the General Membership and/or Assembly of Stewards); serve as liaisons for the Steering Committee to the Staff; ensure GEO representation at Central Labor Council meetings; speak on behalf of GEO to media, the University, etc., and manage the production of media and publicity; act as primary liaisons between GEO and other Unions; oversee publication of GEO newsletter and web page; organizing Standing Committees; and assist the union in achieving its overall mission in the workplace.

Bargaining Organizing & Mobilization Coordinator (1):

The Bargaining Organizing & Mobilization Coordinator will focus on organizing members around their issues/concerns among other duties. This elected member is responsible for involving more members in the bargaining process and recruiting members to speak at the bargaining table (to administration) and for actions around contract negotiations. Paid GEO Bargaining team members are expected to make Bargaining-related trainings and meetings that have been scheduled (around team members’ availability). These elected members will also serve as the liaison between the campaigning/organizing group and will be in regular communication with stewards, the existing listserv of members who have signed up to be active on this committee, and the bargaining committee. Other duties expected given that the position will be starting during an ongoing process.

The elected candidate will begin duties as immediately as the GFAF is processed. The position is fully benefitted, 10/hours per week GEO-protected work, with a stipend equivalent to the average TA stipend for grad workers. In accordance with Article 4 of the GEO contract, these positions are paid for by the University and overseen by the GEO membership. Each position shall continue through the summer and until the end of the semester in which negotiations conclude, or upon resignation.

NOMINATIONS PROCESS

To nominate yourself or someone else, write to GEO’s Steering Committee at steering and GEO’s Elections Committee at elections. (Be sure to write to both committees!) When you do so, please send along a short candidate statement to be shared with the membership when the nominations period concludes. These statements should be no more than 500 words; any longer may be cut off at the word limit when distributed to voters. Nominations will be accepted through Friday, June 7th.

Once you have sent in your nomination, a member of the Elections Committee will reach out to you about your candidate statement, campaigning rules, etc.

If you have any questions regarding the elections or nominations processes, please do not hesitate to email the Elections Committee at elections.

In solidarity,

The GEO Elections Committee

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In solidarity, GEO Leadership
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