Want to become a GEO member?
Then send your completed form to us at geo@umb.edu. You can find more information on Membership Dues here.
Thank you for joining the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO). As a member, you receive access to these special benefits:
1. Scholarly Support Fund (SSF)
Our Scholarly Support Fund (SSF) is offered to dues-paying members to cover academic conference travel and other expenses.
2. Emergency Support Fund (ESF)
The Emergency Support Fund provides small grants to active dues-paying union members for temporary one-time emergency situations.
3. Grievance Support
The GEO organizing committee is here to represent you through any work-related grievance and navigate the University’s campus and administrative proceedings, including legal support at the State level.
4. Graduate Advocate
The GEO distributes a weekly newsletter called The Graduate Advocate, which showcases student-labor events on campus and spreads news to GEO membership.
5. Program Representatives
Every year the GEO coordinates a committee of Program Representatives that act as stewards between your program and the GEO. Program Reps keep you updated on contract information, union changes, bargaining, events on campus, and more.
6. Bargaining on your behalf
Every 3 years the GEO takes up the task of soliciting preferences for policy change, leading the bargaining campaign, and negotiating with the central administration on your behalf. Major gains for the 2017-2020 contract negotiations include a 2% raise, partial dental and vision, and an increase in grant funding for student travel. The wins for the 2021-2023 contract include a Covid bonus, a 4% raise for each year, an increased health insurance waiver, more SSF funding, an emergency support fund, and an additional committee member. The wins for the 2024-2027 contract include an 11% raise followed by two 7% raises, health vision and dental insurance all covered at 95%, and more funding for the Scholarly Support Fund and Emergency Support Fund.
-From the people who brought you the weekend, your union!
Graduate Employee Organization 