From GTFF
[edit] history
In the fall of 1975 GTFs began a union organizing drive and in December of that year filed for a recognition election with the Oregon Employment Relations Board (ERB). In March of 1976 the GTF organizing effort formally affiliated itself with the American Federation of teachers (AFT). The university fought this effort, claiming that GTFs were primarily students rather than employees. However, the ERB eventually rejected the University’s arguments and ruled in favor of the right of graduate student employees to organize a union.
After the successful April 1977 recognition election, the GTFF set down to bargain a first contract with the university. However, progress was slow and the services of a state appointed mediator were necessary to resolve disagreements over the format and ground for negotiations. Substantive negotiations began in the fall of 1977, but lack of progress led the GTFF to declare the negotiations to be at an impasse in the spring of 1978. Over the next few months another mediator and a state appointed fact finder were called in, but agreement on a contract could still not be reached. It was not until after two strike votes were taken by the union in October 1978 that agreement on a contract was finally reached. In the contract itself Article 2 states: Pursuant to the certification by the ERB dated May 5, 1977, the University recognizes the sole and exclusive representative for all Graduate Teaching Fellows as defined by the certification or as may hereafter be redefined by the ERB, except those employees excluded by law.
The GTFF’s first contract with the university established many important gains including a 14% wage increase, standardized workloads, written criteria for appointment/reappointment, and a grievance procedure. In subsequent years language was added to the contract clarifying work assignments and discharge and layoff procedures. Most recently, the GTFF finally won employer-paid health insurance for GTFs in 1993.
In recent years the GTFF has undergone revitalization with increased emphasis on organizing and democratic participation by GTFs in their union. New committees established are now looking at health and safety issues, the concerns of GTFs with children, and the unique concerns of international students who are GTFs.
[edit] affiliation
- Our state affiliate is AFT-Oregon.
- Our affiliates are:
