You can protect yourself individually by checking that many critical benefits are included in your offer letter.
| Does my offer letter include… | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum stipend levels? ($21,329 for 20 hours/week in 2023-2024 Fall & Spring, or $26,059 for three semesters) | |||
| 100% tuition coverage for each semester? | |||
| Fees coverage of at least 50% for each semester? | |||
| Specified hours of work? (20 hours weekly for half-time) | |||
| Compensation for being overworked? | |||
| Performance expectations being provided prior to appointment? | |||
| Our grievance procedure in full? (Article VIII of our current contract) | |||
| Right to grieve evaluations of my work? | |||
| Right of me or my union steward to inspect my personnel file? | |||
| Right to request any part of my evaluation in writing? | |||
| Guarantee of training for teaching and/or research? | |||
| Guarantee of a safe work environment? | |||
| Union representation concerning wages and benefits? | |||
| Provisions allowing the release of my employment info to COGS? | |||
| Health insurance plan options? (UI GradCare or SHIP) | |||
| Employer coverage of premiums? (90% for individuals, 70% for dependent coverage) | |||
| Dental insurance with employer contributions? (85% for individuals, 70% for dependent coverage) | |||
| Reimbursement for travel expenses related to employment? | |||
| UI GradCare provisions in full? (there are 39! see the current COGS contract for the list) | |||
| Dental coverage provisions in full? (see the current COGS contract for the list!) | |||
| Paid leave without pay deductions? (5 working days each semester, or 15 for the fiscal year) | |||
| Sick leave without pay deductions? (13.5 days for the academic year, or 18 for the fiscal year) | |||
| Protections for the use of sick leave for an ill family member without loss of pay? | |||
| Protections for the use of sick leave for the death of a family member without loss of pay? | |||
| Protections for performing jury duty without loss of pay? | |||
| All 9 Holidays? (New Year’s, MLK day, Memorial day, Independence day, Labor day, Thanksgiving Day and the Friday following that day, Christmas Day and either the day before or after) | |||
| Protection of all benefits for the duration of the appointment? | |||
| Affirmation of the University’s human rights policy? | |||
| Deadlines for reappointment letters? (April 15 for summer and/or fall, November 1 for spring) | |||
Also available from this Google Sheet