Our contract defines the benefits and boundaries of our work. This is a legal document, so if something goes wrong in your working situation, you are entitled to have that situation remedied. You can do this through the grievance procedure, which you can discuss with a union leader. To get in touch with the officer on your campus, email us.

If you are worried that your rights are being violated, please contact a union leader on your campus now. Resolving your grievance can often be done informally, and contacting the union about your problem doesn’t commit you to any formal course of action. And if your supervisor wants to question you or you’re worried you might be disciplined, you have a right to union representation.

Rights and protections in the contract include:

Appointment Notification and Appointment Security

When you are hired you should be issued an appointment notification letter, which states the dates you are expected to work, how many hours, and what your pay and benefits are. If you accept an appointment, that job is then guaranteed. If your section is canceled after you’re hired, the university either has to reassign you to another section or pay you anyway. You are also entitled to supplemental documentation that details what course you will be assigned to, and what your specific duties will be. This should be in the form of a checklist, filled out by your supervisor. A checklist for new employees is available here.

Workload

You are entitled to be paid for all duties related to your appointment, including reading course material, attending lecture, preparing for discussion, answering student e-mail, etc. You can’t be required to work more than the hours you are paid for. For a GSI/TA working at 50%, this means that you cannot be asked to work more than 220 hours during the quarter. This should average 20 hours a week. You cannot be asked to work more than 40 hours in any week, or more than 8 hours in one day (this includes during exam time). The number of hours worked in excess of twenty (20) hours per week may not total more than 50 hours per quarter. If your duties ever exceed these amounts, your supervisor should reassign work to make the load manageable, or if that is impossible, increased your appointment percentage. You can also use this helpful grid to track your hours, and contact a union leader if you’re going over.

Childcare Subsidy

Any ASE working at least 25% time who has children aged 12 or under is entitled to an $1,100 per quarter ($1,650 per semester) childcare cost reimbursement. ASEs with summer appointments are also eligible for an $1,100 subsidy. More about the subsidy and the form necessary to request it are here.

Full Remission of In-State Education and Registration Fees and Healthcare Premiums

Whenever students work at least 10 hours a week as a GSI/TA or Reader (a 25% appointment or higher), the university pays 100% of our in-state tuition and registration fees, in addition to our healthcare premiums. Tutors receive an hourly wage only, without fee remission or paid healthcare.

Health Insurance

ASEs are eligible to participate in the UC Student Health Insurance Program (UCSHIP). A grad student ASE with at least 25% employment is eligible for 100% premium remission.

Leaves

In addition to 2 paid sick days per quarter or 3 paid sick days per semester, salaried ASEs appointed at 50% time are entitled to 2 days per quarter or 3 days per semester of paid short-term family-related leave which can be used for illness, disability or family emergency, including immigration-related issues like visa renegotiation or hearings.

Salaried ASEs are also eligible for 3 days paid bereavement leave, paid leave up to 6 weeks for long-term illness, paid leave up to 6 weeks for childbearing and bonding, paid leave up to 4 weeks for adoption and bonding, paid leave up to 4 weeks for serious illness of an ASE or family member.

Protections Against Discrimination & Sexual Harassment

Our contract protects against discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical or mental disability, medical condition, HIV status, status as a veteran, age, citizenship, political affiliation, union activity and membership or non-membership in the union.

Guaranteed Access to All-Gender Bathrooms

Our contract ensures that student-workers have a right to express the need for all-gender bathrooms. The University agrees to provide reasonable access to an existing all-gender restroom within a reasonable distance to the ASE’s work location. Reasonable access may include, but is not limited to, section/class reassignments and/or schedule modifications, redesignating an existing restroom as all-gender, or placing the ASE in an alternate appointment.