Cornell Objections: Know Your Rights
A Guide to Ethical, Moral, Religious, and Beck Objections to Supporting CGSU-UE
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CGSU-UE has consistently misrepresented your rights under our contract with Cornell University.
You have no obligation to sign a union membership card or authorize deduction of dues or agency fees directly from your Cornell paycheck. You can limit your obligations or divert your dues to charity.
The Union Security article of their contract enshrines three options for graduate students to engage with CGSU-UE
Join the union & pay full membership dues.
Pay the union agency fees (which they claim to be same amount of full membership dues) in lieu of joining the union. Note: Implicit in this option is your right to become a Beck objector and not fund the union's political and ideological activities.
File for a religious accommodation according to the EEOC guidelines (which includes certain moral and ethical beliefs), and then make a donation to charity so the union does not get any of your funds.
Fellow objecting students have created this website to inform Cornell University graduate students of their right to object and how to do so.
Kinds of Objections
Kinds of Objections
Religious, Ethical, & Moral Objections
Religious, Ethical, & Moral Objections
Our contract defines ‘sincerely held religious belief’ in line with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC)’s definition. The EEOC definition of religious beliefs includes non-theistic moral and ethical beliefs about right and wrong that are sincerely held with the strength of traditional religious views. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that it is possible to file EEOC charges for non-theistic objections (United States v. Seeger.).
Beck Objections
Beck Objections
Beck objectors do not have to fund the union's political and ideological activities and pay the union a reduced amount (Communications Workers of America v. Beck.) Though this is not explicitly outlined in their contract, SCOTUS precedent protects your right to exercise a Beck objection. This option is implicit in option 2.
How to Object
How to Object
Religious, Ethical, & Moral Objections
Religious, Ethical, & Moral Objections
Ethical, moral, or religious objectors must file a written statement with the union and Cornell concerning their objection. This will allow you to donate to charity in lieu of payments with the union. You have the option to donate to 1) The American Heart Association, 2) the American Cancer Society, or 3) The United Way. United Way has branches worldwide. The existence of this option was emphasized in the Graduate School’s June 2nd, May 2nd, April 18th, April 23rd, and March 25th emails to the graduate student body.
Steps to take
Draft a letter stating your reasoning for an ethical, moral, or religious exemption and provide evidence of sincerity. See the objection template attached.
For assistance with asserting any of these rights, here is some helpful information.
https://youtu.be/GjSUnXaFzc4 (a video explaining religious objector rights)
Contact the National Right To Work legal staff directly through their website at https://www.nrtw.org/free-legal-aid/ or with questions at legal@nrtw.org.
Feel free to notify CUobjections@gmail.com of any response. You will receive assistance should any issues arise.
Considerations about moral and ethical beliefs
One way to think about such beliefs is that you have a conscientious objection or freedom of religion, or that something about supporting the union violates your freedom of conscience
Provide proof of your beliefs when possible, but articulating your views can also be sufficient
Avoid citing beliefs that are explicitly political, though it is fine to discuss ideas rooted in a broader moral or ethical, or religious worldview.
Our Precedent: Lessons from MIT
Our Precedent: Lessons from MIT
At MIT, UE rejected many objections until legal action forced their acceptance. It is possible UE will attempt a similar move at Cornell.
If UE questions your request for an accomodation, you may wish to seek independent (free) legal advice and contact legal@nrtw.org. In most cases, a properly drafted letter will have already invoked your right to object.
Any objections denied by the union will be brought to Cornell’s attention. Ultimately, Cornell has an independent legal obligation and has the power to recognize them. Cornell has stated that is committed to upholding its end of the contract and protecting your contractual rights.
Beck Objections
Beck Objections
Beck objectors are objecting to paying the percentage of dues that go towards political activity and will pay the union a reduced amount (Communications Workers of America v. Beck.). Though this is none of the three options outlined in our contract, SCOTUS precedent protects your right to exercise a ‘Beck objection.’
Note: You must be a non-member of the union to exercise your Beck rights. Learn how to resign your union membership here.
Steps to take
Fill out the Beck template letter.
Send your letter to the union and Cornell email addresses listed in the template
If you receive any negative responses, consider seeking free legal assistance from the National Right to Work Foundation. See links above.
The union has a legal obligation to provide Beck objectors with a fee calculation breakdown to determine what spending counts as political. Upon receiving this breakdown, you can receive assistance in determining whether anything needs to be challenged. A list of non-chargeable expenses can be found here.
Resources
Resources
Need Help Drafting Your Objection?
Need Help Drafting Your Objection?
Why Do People Object?
Why Do People Object?
The Cornell United website has more information about CGSU-UE's positions:
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