History
WHAT IS GAU?
Graduate Assistants United is the only legally recognized collective bargaining agent for graduate students working as teachers and researchers at the University of Florida, University of South Florida, or Florida A & M University. GAU is affiliated with United Faculty of Florida, the Florida Teaching Profession and the National Education Association (NEA).
HOW DID GAU GET ITS START?
A dozen graduate students from the University of Florida started the organization in 1971 to seek better financial support for graduate students, to establish grievance procedures, and to equalize workloads and pay. The group expanded to the University of South Florida and Florida State University and then affiliated with United Faculty of Florida (UFF). The state Board of Regents opposed GAU organization, contending that graduate assistants should be classified with migrant farm workers who are prevented by law from forming any union.
After a six-year court battle, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the right of graduate students to organize. In 1979, USF and UF graduate assistants voted for union representation. The measure was narrowly defeated at FSU.
Two years later, the Florida Legislature passed a bill that denied GAU the right to bargain collectively. More court appeals followed and finally, in 1982, an appeals court ruled against the state bill. A year later, GAU signed its first contract with the Florida Board of Regents. Graduate assistants at Florida A & M voted in 1997 to unionize under GAU, and FAMU GAs received their first contract-containing substantial improvements in pay and employee rights- in 1998.
WHAT HAS GAU ACCOMPLISHED?
GAU has negotiated pay raises for graduate assistants in all but one year since its inception and has improved substantially the working conditions for thousands of graduate students at three state universities. In 1986, GAU won guaranteed tuition waivers for graduate student employees. Before these efforts began, most assistants paid for tuition out of their own pockets.
Through our collective bargaining efforts, GAU has successfully negotiated administration subsidies of the student health insurance plan. Currently, USF pays $940 of the premium for each graduate employee, or about 75%.
GAU also has fought for contract language to insure safe and productive working conditions, including a provision regarding sexual harassment that was added to the contract in 1995.
