Problems in your workplace

There are multiple ways to address unacceptable workplace conditions with support from your union. Graduate Employees can file grievances over contract violations that they experience or organize with other members to address workplace conditions that are not addressed by the contract but are nonetheless unacceptable.

As a CGE member, you are entitled to file grievances about your work if you experience a contract violation. The contract between CGE and OSU guarantees Graduate Employees particular rights, such as timely appointment letters, protections from discrimination and bullying, and paid sick leave. In the case of violated contract rights, CGE will walk members through the formal grievance process. Workplace issues pursued through a grievance legally hold supervisors and/or the University accountable to a timeline and to resolutions that come out of the process.

However, not all workplace issues — like those not yet covered in the contract — can be resolved by the grievance process. Working conditions can be addressed outside of a formal process through the use of collective action. By organizing within departments and colleges, graduate employees can use collective action, hold meetings, and make meaningful change through united power.

Each workplace protection and benefit employees have today came from CGE members past and present. By joining our union, you become a part of this 20-year history at Oregon State University and contribute to building upon these gains.

Members are able to vote and participate in all union functions. Our union is supported by membership dues. Dues pay for community-building events like cookouts and social justice training, as well as support staff who help organize our critical bargaining sessions and take care of a lot of the work involved in running your union.  Without these dues, our union would not exist. To make sure we respect all members’ hard-earned dues, members like you make the decisions about how our dues are used. Dues are 2% of GTA/GRA salary, amounting to $30-50/month depending on your appointment. This can seem like a lot, but this pays for itself many times over through salary increases, job security, healthcare, and overall quality of life – all of which were worse or nonexistent before we had CGE.

Without high membership and involvement, Oregon State University will fight to take away your worker rights. Members of the OSU Administration who negotiated with CGE in 2019 to 2020 made over $170,000 a year, up to roughly $350,000 a year. Those same administrators then attempted to cut our pay amidst a pandemic. They resisted protections for international workers and those who experience workplace bullying. They refused to provide childcare benefits, claiming that this would not “attract top talent” to OSU. They tried to refuse our proposal to give LGBTQIA2+ students safe bathroom access. Thanks to a united front of members like you, we fought and won, increasing employee benefits and protections across the board at a time when unions across the country were suffering major defeats. In 2022 negotiations, OSU offered us a measly 1% Cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) when inflation was 8.5% and Corvallis rental prices were sky-rocketing. By getting hundreds of Graduate Employees to come to the bargaining sessions, we won a 9.5% COLA over the next 2 years. We more than doubled OSU’s hardship fund and made it accessible to more students, including Graduate Employees who don’t have summer funding or need assistance with childcare. All these successes came because when we organize together as workers, we can win against even the toughest administrators.

This is a great place to work – only because employees have united together and negotiated with OSU as a union. It was through thousands of CGE members attending events, rallies, bargaining, spreading awareness, and performing direct actions across two decades that we have the strength to make great things happen.

During COVID-19, our union entered emergency bargaining with Administration to gain pandemic protections not covered by our existing contract. Through the efforts of hundreds of members like you, Graduate Employees at OSU signed agreements with the University to reimburse internet and cell phone costs for remote work, protect against dangerous in-person work assignments, and ensure several safety protections for employees who did work in person.

Ready to join? Click here and sign today.

Want to connect to a Steward in your department or to CGE leadership with questions first? Send us an email today – we would love to talk more!

CGE is more than just a collective of employees fighting for and winning a great place to work. We are a social space to connect, an organization committed to developing and growing new leaders, and an activist hub for our OSU and the Corvallis community.

There are many ways to get involved in your union after you join CGE.

– Members get access to our Graduate Employee Discord server (a free voice, video, and text chatting application) chock-full of social events, connections to the community, and up-to-date info on employee life at OSU. If you would like to join, email us after you become a member!
– Every department elects Stewards, recognized by our employer as the on-the-ground leaders who keep a pulse on work conditions, equity, and inclusion. Stewards are also the first point-of-contact for employees who have any employment-related questions.
– Serve as a Delegate and vote on behalf of CGE at State and National conferences with American Federation of Teachers (AFT) – get a glimpse and participate in the power of educators united!
– Being a Committee member lets you dig deep and vote on important work, such as Finance, Constitution, and Social & Political Education committees.
– Want to get really involved? Our Executive Council is a team of Graduate Employees who manage projects, communicate with membership and media, build newsletters, represent workers to Oregon State, and supervise our staff.
– We have many Caucuses where anyone can get involved to bond, organize events, and steer our work as a union. Check out the caucuses listed below on Discord! If you have an idea for a new caucus, send us an email and we can get it started together!
     – Anti-Harassment Caucus
     – Disability Justice
     – Environmental Justice
     – Housing
     – International Student
     – Mental Health
     – Pride (LGBTQ+)
     – Women of Color
     – Working Parents

For all of these positions and paths to get involved, CGE is committed to giving new and upcoming leaders engaging training opportunities.

All our meetings are open-door. Come and check out a meeting, email us to learn more, come to social events, and get plugged in. We are so excited to meet you!

CGE Contact Information, 2023 – 2024 Academic Year
– President: Maya Feezell (any pronouns), president@cge6069.org
– Secretary-Treasurer: Jerry Sun (he/him),  treasurer@cge6069.org
– Vice President for Bargaining: Luke Nearhood (he/him), vp_bargaining@cge6069.org,
– Vice President for Communications: Vic Quennessen (she/they),  vp_communications@cge6069.org
– Vice President for Grievances: Ashton Cumming (she/her),  vp_grievances@cge6069.org
– Vice President for Membership: Austin Bosgraaf (he/him),  vp_membership@cge6069.org
– Vice President for Organizing: Andrea Retano (she/her),  vp_oranizing@cge6069.org
– Vice President for Solidarity: Noah Vaughan (they/them), vp_solidarity@cge6069.org
– Social Activities Chair: Gabby Poccia (she/her) and Sarah Selke (she/her),  activities@cge6069.org
– Staff Organizer: Lauren Nelson (she/her), organizer@cge6069.org
– Operations and Support Staff: Alexis Kiessling (she/her), operations@cge6069.org

Social Media
Facebook Page: facebook.com/cge6069
Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/CGE6069
Housing/mutual aid Facebook Group: facebook.com/groups/cgehousing
Instagram: @cge6069
Twitter: @cge6069
Discord: Discord acts as our “virtual union hall.” Upon becoming a member, you will receive an invite link.