United Faculty of Florida Represents
Graduate Assistants at Florida State University
GAU advocates for the interests of graduate workers and seeks to protect and advance our working conditions. GAU is the only legally recognized collective bargaining agent for graduate assistants and researchers at the University of Florida, University of South Florida, Florida A & M University, and now at Florida State University.
On May 1, 2009, the FSU chapter of GAU won an election to represent graduate assistants in collective bargaining and contract negotiations with Florida State University with 76% of the vote! By coming together, we can make improvements in our lives and do much more together than we can alone. GAU is a chapter of United Faculty of Florida (UFF), a statewide organization that represents and bargains for FSU faculty as well as faculty and graduate employees at universities and community colleges all over Florida.
Graduate Employees Have The Right To Discuss Collective Bargaining And Unionizing On Campus
The law prohibits the FSU administration from interfering in your constitutional right to organize for collective bargaining (union) rights. You can sign an authorization card in your office or lab, as long as it is not during your paid assistantship work time (i.e., class time, office hours). Take a break if you are unsure.
See this Florida Public Employees Relations Commission decision from 2003 in response to an “overly broad no-solicitation policy” from FSU administration during a faculty union campaign.
©2008 United Faculty of Florida, the Higher Education local of the Florida Education Association
Affiliated with the NEA/AFT/AFL-CIO
