Come and celebrate the end of seven long months of bargaining and the successful negotiation of our 2008-2011 contract!

What: Food, drinks & fun
Where:  GEU office (319 1/2 E. Grand River Avenue)

When: Thrsday, May 8 @ 5 pm - ?

All GEU members and their families are welcome!  Childcare reimbursement available - Validated parking

After seven llong months of negotiations we have a contract!  The contract was ratified by more than 97%.  This contract will take effect May 16, 2008 and last until May 15, 2011.  Congratulations and thank you for efforts this year.

Here are the details:

Wages:
* Annual stipend increases of 3%, 2.75%, and 2.5%
* Clarification on how you get to Level 3 pay

Health Insurance:
* 25 visits for mental health (up from 20)
* Employer will contribute $2100 (or up to 70%) each year towards the cost of insuring a dependent
* Increase prescription cap to $7500 (up from $5000)
* Reduction in mental health co-pays to $10 (down from $30)
* Prescription co-pay reduced to $5 for generics and $10 for brand (down from $10 and $20)
* OEI coverage

Tuition Waiver:
* Fall 9 credits, Spring 9 credits, Summer 5 credits

Parking:
* Maintain current parking benefits

College Fees:
* No change

Term of the agreement:
* Three year contract: 2008-2011

Employee Rights:
* Reimbursement for copies and other course materials
* MSU email addresses and space equal to what is given to faculty

Appointments:
* Appointments will be made by March 31 for summer, April 22 for Fall & Spring. If letters are late employees who notify the Union will receive 2 weeks pay after a 3 day grace period expires.

Professional Development:
* Input into TAP program
* Employees can request additional discipline specific training from supervisors

Personnel Records:
* TAs will receive a copy of materials placed in record
* TAs will have the opportunity to respond to materials placed in their file
* A Union rep can go with TA to view their file

Health & Safety:
* University will reimburse for immunizations and meds required for international travel while working as a TA

Special Conferences:
* Bi-monthly meetings with Office of Employee Relations bi-monthly to discuss grievances
* Union will meet with Dean of Graduate School each semester
We would like to thank all of the people who helped make this contract possible including the American Federation of Teachers, the Lansing Labor Council (LLC),Building Trades of Michigan, the Clerical Technical Union @ MSU (CTU), The MI AFL-CIO, the Graduate Employees Organization at University of Michigan, GEOC and UPTF at Wayne State University, Students for Economic Justice @MSU, IATSE, and last but not least the fine faculty and students here at MSU.

Each April, we elect five Union Officers to represent us to the MSU Administration, our AFL-CIO and AFT affiliates, the Coalition of Labor Organizations at MSU and other labor organizations. In addition, the GEU Executive Board is responsible for the day to day operations of the Union. The GEU Stewards Council is pleased to announce the results of the 2008-09 Executive Board elections. These terms are effective August 1, 2008 - July 31, 2009.
Congratulations to the newly elected 2008-09 GEU Executive Board!
Art Covert III, President
Sarah Lanius, Vice President for Organizing & Outreach
Elizabeth Pellerito, Vice President for Contract Negotiation & Enforcement
Sara Rowell, Treasurer
Ed Corcoran, Information Officer

Vision Insurance: GEU is pleased to once again be able to offer members optional vision coverage. As part of the Coalition of Labor Organizations (CLO) at MSU, GEU members, along with all other unionized employees at the University will benefit from group discounts for vision care through MEBS. For information click here. Open enrollment begins April 2008 for a July 2008 start date.