Article 3 - Membership
Section 3.1 – Definition of the Bargaining Unit
Per GEU’s certification with the Employment Relations Board, the current definition of our bargaining unit is as follows and will be superseded by the most recent of any subsequent definitions issued by the Employment Relations Board:
All Graduate Assistants employed by Portland State University, including Graduate Administrative Assistants, Graduate Research Assistants, and Graduate Teaching Assistants, but excluding supervisory and confidential employees.
Section 3.2 - Member Status
3.2(a) 3.2.1 Employees included in any bargaining unit represented by the local, or in a bargaining unit being organized by the local, shall be eligible for Regular membership. Regular members in good standing shall be entitled to all rights and privileges in Section 3.3.
3.2(b) 3.2.2 The following classes are eligible for associate membership:
Employees who leave the bargaining unit for any reason, except supervisory status.
Portland State University graduate students who are excluded from the bargaining unit represented by GEU.
Former GEU Members in good standing who left the Portland State University graduate program less than one (1) calendar year ago. Associate members who are not currently Portland State University graduate students are not eligible for election to officer or steward positions.
If already elected to office at the time that they transition from Regular to Associate membership, the they may complete existing terms.
Associate members in good standing have the same rights and privileges as Regular members in accordance with Section 3.6, except that they may not vote on collective bargaining agreements, calls to strike, or on questions of dues.
3.2(c) 3.2.3 All Regular and Associate Members shall be considered in good standing with GEU so long as dues are paid in accordance with Article 18. Process for continued delinquency of dues is described by Section 3.4.
3.2(d) 3.2.4 All Membership shall be by application through signing and filing a membership card or online application. Membership withdrawal shall be by written communication to the VP of Operations and shall take be effective thirty (30) days after the communication is received.
Section 3.3 – GEU Member Bill of Rights
All members of the GEU in good standing are afforded the following rights:
1. i. The right to the full benefits of union membership, collective bargaining, and union support without regard for bias or fear of discrimination of any kind
2. ii. The right to file grievances against the University for matters pertaining to their job and the Collective Bargaining Agreement as outlined in Section 14.7 in keeping with Article GRIEVANCE_ARTICLE ??? of the Collective Bargaining Agreement
3. iii. Weingarten rights which include the right to union advising and support during investigations and disciplinary matters
4. iv. The right to their full voice and opinions regarding the Collective Bargaining Agreement and GEU operations through voting and and involvement in union operations
5. v. The right to self-organize for collective, member-driven action
6. vi. The right to serve on any GEU committee (besides removal due to continued absences (see Section 5.3) and decisions made as a result of internal review (see Article 22))
7. vii. The right to appeal decisions made by the Executive Board or a committee according to the internal review process as outlined in Section 22.1
8. viii. The right to run for any officer position within GEU
9. ix. The right to create petitions and referenda for the GEU membership and Constitution
10. x. The right to copies of this Constitution and Bylaws upon request of the Vice President of Operations
Section 3.3.1 – Rights Restrictions For Members Not In Good Standing
Members who are considered to not be in good standing due to delinquency in dues payment (see Section 3.7) or as a result of internal review shall forgo the right to participate in decision making or appeals, and are not eligible to run for officer positions.
Section 3.4 - Bargaining Unit Member Rights
Regardless of membership or standing, all bargaining unit members are still entitled to the right to file grievance, Weingarten rights, the right to review the GEU constitution and bylaws, and any other rights granted by law.
Section 3.5 - Equity
The Graduate Employees Union of Portland State University strives to create an atmosphere of equity among our members and the community. As such:
3.3(a) 3.5.1 No discrimination shall be shown toward individual members or applicants for membership on the basis of race, creed, religious affiliation, sex, age, disability, body type, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, lifestyle, political affiliation, economic status, color, ethnicity, national origin, parental status, veteran status, or other characteristics subject to discrimination.
3.3(b) 3.5.2 Any member found to be in violation of this Equity Clause in the course of GEU operation is subject to the process of review as described in Article 12 of the GEU Constitution.
Section 3.6 - Supervisory Transitions
Supervisory personnel as defined in ORS 243.650(23) shall not obtain membership. Members who are promoted to positions with the rank of supervisor are automatically removed from membership on the effective date of promotion. Although ORS 243.650(19) excludes managerial employees (in addition to supervisory employees) from public employee status, we will consider the exception for faculty members in ORS 243.650(16) to apply to e.g. an instructor of record Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) who has another GTA assigned to their course as a grader. In such a situation, both GTAs would be eligible for membership.
Section 3.7 - Delinquency
Any member who fails to pay dues within forty-five (45) days of the due date shall be dropped from the rolls and will have their name removed from the records at the national office, unless nonpayment is a consequence of the University’s failure to remit dues payments to GEU under the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The member may be reinstated upon payment of all back dues, not to exceed three (3) months of back dues, plus a reinstatement fee equal to one-half (1⁄2) the monthly dues requirement. The Executive Board may modify, including waiving completely, the amount of the reinstatement fee and back dues.
Section 3.8 - Amendment Impact
No Member shall lose membership due to changes in the Constitution and Bylaws.