Dear GEO members,
This just in! We are proud to announce that David Pritchard, GEO’s Grievance Coordinator, has accepted a position as a Union Representative and Organizer with our UAW Local 2322. David will continue to work with and support GEO alongside Matthew Donlevy, our current UAW representative, but he will no longer be serving in the position of Grievance Coordinator. Therefore we will be hiring an interim Grievance Coordinator to serve out the rest of the academic year. See details in the call below. Applications are Due March 17, 2022.
Please note—although David will no longer officially hold the position of Grievance Coordinator, he will continue to work with members dealing with potential contract violations and other workplace issues. If you think your rights are being violated, do not hesitate to contact him! His new email address is david (his GEO address still works as well).
GEO is now accepting applications for Interim Grievance Coordinator for 2022!
Applications Due March 17th at 5pm.
The Grievance Coordinator will solicit member concerns to determine which are contract violations, and which are issues to organize around. When the University violates the contract, the procedure for seeking redress is the grievance process; in conjunction with the UAW2322 Union Representatives, the GEO Grievance Coordinator is responsible for managing this process.
Successful applicants will need to have a detailed familiarity with the GEO contract, be comfortable with administrative and legal procedures, and have a commitment to upholding the contract. Attention to detail, strong research and interpersonal skills, assertiveness and diplomacy in relations with University administrators, and persistence and ability to follow-through are essential for this job. Experience working with union contracts and knowledge of state labor laws is preferable.
Strong preference will be given to GEO members that have previous GEO experience, including active participation with campaigns and committees, but if you don’t have it, a willingness to learn on the job is essential. All members in good standing of GEO-UAW 2322 for the two consecutive semesters prior to applying are eligible to apply. Applicants must be committed to the principles of social justice and collective action. All GEO employees should also demonstrate willingness to work towards the union’s collective goals and a commitment to being part of an organization that is fighting for progressive change on the UMass campus and beyond.
The core responsibilities for this position are investigating potential contract violations, working with GEO members who feel their rights have been violated, filing grievances, attending grievance hearings, and monitoring the resolution of grievances. The Grievance Coordinator works closely with UAW2322 Union Representatives in the performance of these duties. The Grievance Coordinator is directly supervised by the UAW2322 President and the GEO Steering Committee.
Additional duties include, but are not limited to:
1. Educating members about the grievance procedure and providing training and support to stewards so they can handle the first step of grievances.
2. Organizing around grievances by working with stewards as well as Union Reps and GEO-UAW elected leadership.
3. Assisting with the process of publicizing successful grievances.
4. Contributing content to the GEO website and other media as appropriate.
All employees are expected to devote a portion of their paid working hours to office management tasks (i.e. holding office hours, answering phones, taking messages, in-taking grievances, greeting members who come into the office, etc.) and to attend meetings as required, including regular weekly staff meetings. Some night and weekend hours may be required.
This position is for 20 hours per week starting as early as possible and ends on June 1st, 2022 because this is an interim position. Once this term is over, the candidate will have a chance to apply again for the whole year term, which is a 52 week position (inclusive of summer funding) that starts on June 1st, 2022. Applicants must be a full dues-paying GEO member in good standing. GEO/UAW Local 2322 will provide training. People of color, Black people, international students, parents, women and transgender and gender nonconforming candidates are encouraged to apply.
In order to apply, please submit:
- A resume.
- A cover letter stating the reasons you are interested in the position and your qualifications.
- A completed GEO grievance coordinator application
Applications should be emailed to hiring by 5pm on Friday, March 17th, 2022. Interviews will be on a rolling basis. The application form is attached to this email.
In solidarity,
The GEO Hiring Committee
