We, graduate student workers and organizers, have founded The University of Texas Graduate Workers Union (UTGWU) for the following reasons:

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There are over ten thousand graduate students at UT Austin. Many of these students work as teachers and researchers for the University, playing critical roles in its day-to-day operations through their steadfast dedication to education and scientific practice.

 

Despite their integral role in the operations of the University, many graduate student-workers have been paid poverty wages and otherwise poorly treated and disrespected by the University.

 

Repeated pleas from graduate students to University administration for relief over the years have been met with responses that consistently degrade our role and the value of our labor.

 

Individually we are powerless, but collectively we make the University run and have the power to grind its operations to a halt.

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The following rules have been drawn up for the association:

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1. Definition of Union Membership

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Section 1. Membership in the union is open to all graduate student-workers at the University of Texas at Austin.

(a) A graduate student-worker is any graduate student who has worked for the University (e.g., as a GRA, TA, or AI), currently works for the University, or plans on working for the University at some point in their graduate studies.

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Section 2. The rights and privileges of members shall be as follows:

(a) Eligibility to vote on all union proposals and labor action authorizations.

(a1) Labor action authorization votes are limited to graduate student workers currently employed by the university and who would be expected to participate in the proposed labor action.

(b) Join and participate in union events.

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Section 3. Membership can be obtained by registering and signing a union card.

(a) Membership may be canceled via email. 

 

Section 4. Members will be in bad standing if they cross a union picket line or fail to participate in an authorized labor action. Members may also be in bad standing if they violate the Member Conduct Guidelines. Members in bad standing risk being ejected from the union.

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2. Procedures for Labor Actions

 

Section 1. Any member in good-standing may put forth the request for the union to take labor action, and must be seconded by another member, also in good-standing. 

(a) The request for labor action must have a proposal and a start date. (Must specify the labor action as immediate OR name a trigger condition to start the labor action).

(b) The request for labor action may optionally include a trigger condition for ending the labor action.

(c) The request for labor action may optionally specify some subset of members that would be participating in the labor action (e.g. graduate students workers in a specific college).

(d) After the request is submitted, voting must start within the next week, unless otherwise requested by the submitting parties.

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Section 2. A labor action authorization vote will be conducted asynchronously over one (1) week to provide opportunity for participation by the membership.

(a) At the start of the voting period, the proposal will be shared with the general membership.

(b) The vote of each eligible member will be recorded anonymously.

(c) A labor action may be authorized only after 50% or more of the eligible membership casts a vote in support of the labor action.

 

Section 3. Labor action authorization shall expire when more than 50% of the participating membership casts a vote in support of ending the labor action or when a trigger condition to end the labor action is met.

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3. Process for Amending the General Rules and Member Conduct Guidelines

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Section 1. The General Rules and Member Conduct Guidelines may be amended when more than 50% of the membership has cast a vote in support of the amendment. 

(a) Voting will be asynchronous and last one (1) week after the meeting presenting the amendment to the membership.​

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Section 2. A proposed amendment must be submitted at least two weeks in advance of the general membership meeting where the amendment is presented to the membership.

 

Section 3. The same amendment may not be submitted for approval more than once every academic semester.

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4. UTGWU’s Status as a Representative Body for Graduate Student Workers

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Section 1. UTGWU is the primary representative and decision-making body for UT graduate student workers.

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Section 2. UTGWU is authorized to advocate to and negotiate with the University of Texas at Austin or any other organization on behalf of UT graduate student workers.

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Section 3. UTGWU members recognize UTGWU as representing them. Upon becoming a member, members assent to the following statement:

“I recognize UTGWU as the primary representative and decision-making body for UT graduate student workers. I authorize UTGWU to advocate to and negotiate with the University of Texas at Austin or any other organization on behalf of UT graduate student workers.” 

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