Union Security Article
A Union Security article is a component of a collective bargaining agreement (contract) that establishes whether and when graduate students who are members of the bargaining unit must join the CGSU-UE or pay other fees to the union for representing them in collective bargaining.
The Union Security article in the contract with CGSU-UE preserves freedom of choice for students who object to union membership while still recognizing the contractual agreement between the union and the university.
Exemptions for Religious, Moral, or Ethical Beliefs
The article provides three different choices for graduate student workers:
- Join the union and pay dues
- Do not join and pay an agency fee to the union
- Do not join and advise the union of a religious objection (including on moral or ethical grounds) and donate an equivalent amount to a charitable organization (United Way, American Heart Association, or American Cancer Society)
The “religious objection” accommodation includes graduate student workers who object to union membership for moral or ethical reasons, consistent with EEOC guidance. This accommodation allows graduate student workers to advise the union that they object on this basis, and that they are electing to make a monthly charitable contribution to the United Way, the American Heart Association, or the American Cancer Society instead of paying union dues or agency fees.
The article stipulates that students who advise the union that they have elected to donate to one or more of these charitable organizations will make monthly contributions and provide proof of these payments. This could be accomplished by setting up a recurring monthly donation online and listing the union as one of the recipients of the monthly donation notification or retaining your monthly proof of payment to provide to the union.
Are students who refuse to join the union or pay agency fees still covered by the collective bargaining agreement?
Yes. Although students cannot be forced to join a union, any who have a classification that falls within the bargaining unit will be bound by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement. This is true whether or not the student becomes a member of the union, pays an agency fee or, if the student chooses to make charitable contributions in lieu of dues or fees.
The union has a duty to fairly represent everyone in the bargaining unit regardless of union membership status.