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Graduate Employees' Student Organization
Graduate Employees' Student Organization - Fighting for a voice at the Ohio State University
Fighting for a voice at the Ohio State University
The Graduate Employees and Students Organization (GESO) is a group of students concerned about the working conditions of Graduate Associates (GA) at OSU. GAs are not just students, but are also employees. As employees, GAs should have the right to fair working conditions, and GESO feels this can best be achieved through forming a union.
Stop Fees for Graduate Assistants!
*Please do not sign the online petition if you've signed the Stop Fees petition in person - they're the same!
The Chronicle of Higher Education
Two articles appeared in the Chronicle of Higher Education this spring that provide excellent background on current issues facing universities, faculty, undergrads, and graduate students. Take a moment to check them out!
"Tenure, RIP: What the Vanishing Status Means for the Future of Education" (June 2010)
"Graduate Humanities Education: What Should Be Done?" (April 2010)
GA Welcome Night
Wednesday, September 22, 7-10pm
Mad Mex (on High St. at the South Campus Gateway)
If you're a new or returning Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA), Research Associate (GRA), or Admin. Associate (GAA), come kick off the new academic year at Mad Mex (On High St. at the South Campus Gateway). Join us for some good food and good conversation with other graduate employees. Appetizers and soft drinks are on GESO!
Next Activism Factory
Activism Factory will resume Autumn Quarter so check back soon for the new schedule!
About OSU-GESO.ORG
GESO is the Graduate Employees' Student Organization, a group of students seeking to improve working conditions for Graduate Associates at Ohio State University. GAs are not just students, we are also hard-working employees who provide a large portion of the instructional time for the university. As responsible employees, we have the right to fair working conditions. GESO believes this can best be achieved by forming a union.
A union is an organization formed by employees to advance their common interests. The union will negotiate a legally binding contract with the university regarding our wages, benefits, and other terms of work. Without a union we have no say in our working conditions. As a union, we will be able to vote on our pay, benefits and grievance procedures. The university will be legally required to follow the contract we approve.
GESO is affiliated with the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT). OFT is part of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which has more members in higher education than any other union in the nation.
History of GESO
GESO's Founding
GESO was formed in the Spring of 2000 during a time of labor unrest at OSU. Members of the Communications Workers of America (CWA) were protesting the unfair treatment of OSU's service employees and skilled trade maintenance workers at and congregated outside of Bricker Hall. A group of graduate employees showing support for the CWA strike began to discuss the possibility of forming a union of grad employees.
In Fall 2000, GESO became a recognized student organization. At this time, GESO was a small organization trying to get its bearings. In Spring of 2002 GESO's leadership made the move to affiliate with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and garnered additional strong support from the American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO) in 2003. Today, along with the local branch of the Ohio Federation of Teachers (OFT), these unions provide much needed support to make graduate employee unionization at OSU a reality.
Historical Events and Milestones
Autumn 2003--- GESO provides testimony in front of several Ohio House of Representative subcommittees in support of higher education funding as well as collective bargaining rights for graduate employees.
Autumn 2003--- GESO launches a health care petition to raise the minimum health care subsidy for GAs (only 42% subsidized). At this time, the administration states that money is not available to raise the subsidies. GESO doubles their efforts and gathers more signatures. Within days of receiving the additional signatures, the administration presents a plan to increase healthcare subsidy to 66% (putting us in 9th place within the Big Ten network). GESO, still unhappy, gathers 1800 signatures and prepares to launch a rally outside of University Hall. 12 hours before the rally, the University announces a revised plan to improve health care subsidies, include dependents in plans, and increase the minimum stipend.
Winter 2004--- GESO's card drive is initiated to gather collective bargaining authorization cards pledging support for the unionization of graduate employees.
Autumn 2006--- Due to overwhelming dissatisfaction over the increasing fees (2004- $24, 2005-$36, 2006-$66, 2007-$102, 2008-$105) GESO launches another petition. Over 1400 signatures are collected but the OSU administration pushes off the discussion to a later date.
Spring 2006--- GESO meets again with OSU administration to discuss the reduction or elimination of fees. At this time the administration refuses to discuss fees due to their displeasure over a newsletter published by GESO, taking credit for the initiation of improvements to GA health care in 2003. The motion by GESO to begin a formal recognition process is denied at this time and the administration continues to avoid discussing this topic.
2006-2008--- GESO changes strategies to focus on a legislative campaign at the Ohio statehouse. Based on prior experience with the OSU administration and GESO internal staffing changes, priorities shift from campus to the state, and energies are directed at passing legislation that would make Ohio's collective bargaining laws more friendly to graduate employees.
Spring 2009--- GESO , along with representatives from the Ohio Federation of Teachers, successfully works to get legislation introduced into the Ohio Senate in order to remove graduate students from an Ohio law limiting their collective bargaining rights.
Summer 2009--- Given movement by some state legislators, GESO undertakes an organizational and activist review. GESO increases its on-campus organizing and works towards putting renewed pressure on the OSU administration to improve wages and working conditions for GAs. A new card-signing and activist recruitment strategy is planned for Fall 2009.
Autumn 2009--- Legislation is introduced into the Ohio House that, if passed, would grant graduate employees and part-time/adjunct faculty in Ohio full collective bargaining rights. GESO actively seeks new members and organizers and significantly increases card-signing rates targeted departments.
Winter 2010--- GESO members give testimony in front of the Ohio House of Representatives Committee on Commerce and Labor in support of collective bargaining rights legislation.
Spring 2010--- The OSU administration announces that it is raising quarterly fees for all students by nearly 70%, set to go into effect the following Autumn. GESO launches a petition challenging the fee increase. GESO works with OFT to continue pressuring Ohio House Democrats to move on the collective bargaining bill.