Our Contract
GEO is one of the oldest and strongest graduate student unions in the country. Our contract reflects this. It is the result of decades of organizing and struggle. Thanks to graduate students like you, everyone in GEO-protected positions is strongly protected from overwork, harassment, discrimination, and other mistreatment and exploitation. These protections apply regardless of job classification: if you’re a TA, TO, RA, PA, Intern, Working Trainee, Working Fellow, or Prestigious Graduate Fellow, you’re in the bargaining unit and you’re covered!
Click here to read the 2024-2027 collective bargaining agreement between GEO and the university!
Highlights from this new CBA include:
- 26.46% increases to the GEO minimum over the life of the contract
- 100% waiver of the Graduate Service Fee effective Fall 2024
- 100% waiver of the Engineering Fee over the life of the contract (75% waived in Fall 2024)
- establishment of an emergency housing fund with $250,000 in seed funds and ~$550,000
- added yearly (administration of fund TBD by joint union/university committee)
- $185,000/year increase to contributions to the Health and Welfare Trust Fund for childcare reimbursement–for a total of $400,000/year
- New protections from discrimination and harassment
- Failure to provide ADA accommodations is now explicitly labeled a form of discrimination
- Filing a university complaint in response to harassment will pause the timeline for any grievance process
- Expanded grievance procedure
- provisions previously excluded from the grievance process will be grievable using a new, expedited grievance procedure, including appointment and reappointment, job descriptions, and changes in assignment
- Union rights changes
- FERPA will no longer need to be proactively waived, it will be waived when you sign your GFAF
and more!
If you’re experiencing problems at work, no matter how small, write to us at geo@umass.edu right away! The sooner we can address problems like these, the better chance we have of resolving them quickly. You can also reach out to the Grievance Coordinator or any of the other GEO leaders (find everyone’s emails here).