$3,500 Won for GEO Member in Settlement

GEO Wins: Settlement for $3,500

After a grad worker found themselves in financial hardship due to a $0 paycheck, they reached out to U of I Payroll to ask for an explanation. When Payroll refused to justify why thousands of dollars in additional taxes on the worker's summer automatic waiver from their teaching assistantship had been withheld, the worker asked GEO for help.

The Grievance Committee requested that the university provide the worker with a full legal justification or else reverse its withholding. Payroll refused to cooperate, dragging out the investigation for months. Grievance Committee escalated the grievance until the Office of the Provost agreed to refund the worker $3,500 out of its own budget to fix Payroll's error.

UIUC also agreed to sign a commitment promising to work with GEO to address our concerns about fair tax assessment on summer waivers.

If you believe your contractual right to tuition waiver benefits has been violated, contact the GEO Grievance Committee at grievance@uigeo.org