Greetings,

It's an exciting year, and with all our new memberships flooding in it's about time we had a party! More on that below. But first, let me tell you about a conversation I seem to have all the time. I wander into a lab or catch someone during office hours to sign them as a member... and they tell me, "But I'm already a member! I see the dues deducted from my pay!" Aha. Common mistake!

As a graduate employee at Rutgers, you already pay a "representation fee" to the union, whether you're a member or not--that's because you enjoy all the benefits of union representation and all the same contractual rights regardless of union membership. Now, if you sign up as a full member you'll pay about an extra $20 per year in dues, which comes to between $0.91 and $0.94 per paycheck--and that's really nothing at all compared to 8% raises, right?

So the thing is, we really don't need the money; we can pay our staff and keep up with our bills just fine without it. What we REALLY need is your support: in talks with the University or lawmakers in Trenton, strong membership sends the message that we don't just represent your interests. We speak with one voice as a union.

So... maybe you only THINK you're a member! If you're not sure, just ask and we'll check for you... but if you're getting THIS message and NOT the message I'm sending right now to our full members... chances are you slipped through the cracks. Or your membership form has not yet been processed. Sign up today! Just download a membership form at http://www.rutgersaaup.org/join.htm, fill it out and drop it in campus mail! To make it even easier, if you have a scanner you can just scan the completed form and email it to us!

If you just haven't made up your mind, or you have serious questions about union membership... well, there's no better time to meet us than at our first monthly "Thank the Organizers!" Party this Friday!

"Thank the Organizers!" Party
When: Friday, Oct 2, 7pm–1am
Where: Graduate Student Lounge, College Ave.
RSVP Appreciated: We need to how much food and drink to buy! RSVP not required, but we'd appreciate a note to taga@gsa.rutgers.edu--or just sign up on our Facebook Event page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=145968322325&index=1.

Together we are stronger!
(And together we have more fun!)

Elric Kline
Chair, TA/GA Steering Committee
Rutgers AAUP-AFT

http://www.rutgersaaup.org
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