1. For your first question, you're receiving that letter with Hudson's report because you're a new student employee. You should look at the cover letter and see if it requires you to return that deduction form.
Some students may not have turned in the form to GEO before, their cover letter will require them to do that, but your cover letter may just say you don't need to return. That form and Hudson's report are just for your reference. So, take a look at the cover letter!
2. About paying the dues, you need to pay something to GEO no matter you want to be a member or just agency fee payer because you are covered under GEO contract in your appointment. Being a member, you need to pay 2%, but you can vote, you can make the union stronger (it's important for this bargaining year), you can somedays get hired in GEO position / get elected in GEO leadership. You can vote for other Chinese students who want to become GEO leadership etc. Being an agency fee payer, you need to pay 1.83% (just a little bit less), you get all basic benefits as members (tuition waive, health, dental, vision...) but you're not supporting the union by being part of it. In short, it's worth it to become a member as GEO is really making an effort to improve your well-being and GEO needs your support!
3. You should inform Jeremy Brown, our benefits administrator about your SSN so that your dental and vision plan can file your real SSN. It's important because SSN would be your subsription no. It'll be very complicated if they don't have your real SSN. You will know it once you use dental/vision and you need to file claim. It's important not to disclose your SSN carelessly, but it's important to disclose it to the correct person when needed!
If you don't want to disclose your SSN via phone (534-7618) or email (
uawdental@external.umass.edu), you can go to Jeremy Brown's office in UMass: 326 Middlesex House. He only works from Mon to Thurs. And it's better if you call him first to make sure he's there when you go.
