All graduate students at the University of Michigan benefit from the strong contract that grad workers have negotiated over the past several decades. You can still financially contribute to your union in the semesters you are not employed as a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) or Graduate Student Staff Assistant (GSSA) by paying solidarity dues (using Option 1 below). If you do not have PayPal, you can still make a one-time contribution using Option 2 below.
GEO alumni and community allies can also support the union’s work by making a one-time or recurring contribution of solidarity dues (using Option 2 below). Graduate students are working hard to keep membership up after being hit with anti-union laws like Right to Work, but we still need to make up for the revenue we lost when we lost the ability to charge service fees.
Solidarity dues go a long way towards helping grad workers in our fight for a stronger contract and a more equitable campus community.
You have two options for contributing solidarity dues, outlined below!
Option 1: Pay Solidarity Dues for One Term
Sign up to pay solidarity dues in four monthly installments (i.e., for one term). You may renew each term. The suggested amounts are equivalent to your regular GSI/GSSA fraction dues minus the affiliation dues we pay to our parent union in the terms when you are teaching.
Option 2: Ongoing or One-Time Contribution
Anyone can pay solidarity dues on a monthly, ongoing basis or make a one-time contribution. Simply click the check box on our PayPal form to make your solidarity dues an ongoing monthly contribution. Note that to make one-time contributions, you just need a credit card/debit card.
The “Fine Print“
If you don’t already have one, creating a PayPal account takes about two minutes. Note that donations are not tax-deductible. If you have any questions about Solidarity Dues, please e-mail solidaritydues@geo3550.org.