Full tentative agreement reached!! 

Dear Members,

The bargaining committee is thrilled to  announce a full tentative agreement between GSU-UE and the University. After nearly 2,000 of us signed the strike pledge in under a month, the University made huge movements on our priorities. We have a contract pending ratification! 

• The minimum annual PhD funding rate will be $45,000 effective October 1st, 2024. But we’re getting a raise before that! Effective July 1st, the minimum annual stipend rate will be $41,000. If you’re already making 41K you’ll be getting a 2.5% July 1, and another 2.5% raise Oct. 1

• You’ll be allowed to teach beyond the requirements of your program, and you’ll get paid to do so. Teaching assignments that are beyond program requirements will be compensated in addition to the department’s funding ($3,000/TAship; $5,000/Lectureship). For example, if you TA a course that is not part of your program’s requirements, you would be at $48k that year.

• In our discrimination article we’ve secured the ability to grieve instances of abuse of authority and discrimination. We’ve also guaranteed union representation during the Title IX processes.

• The Student Services Fee will be waived for all MA students with teaching positions.

• The minimum pay rate for all hourly positions will be $19 effective October 1, 2024.

• Additional payments for PhD students with teaching and research positions include: $300 for dental; $225 for retirement; $100 for vision; $100 for transportation subsidy (at annualized rates). All incoming international PhDs will get $510 for visa fees.

• The Childcare Stipend has been increased to $4,000 for 1 child, and $5,500 for 2 or more children. Families who adopt can receive $5,000 in assistance per child, up to $10,000 per family.

• 25% of the dependent and spousal healthcare premiums will be covered.

Our bargaining committee members poured their heart and soul into crafting proposals and negotiating with the University over the past year. Organizers from every division spent countless hours speaking to members and gathering strike pledges; and our collective power and escalation moved the University to meet graduate workers’ core demands around compensation, dental and vision benefits, and non-discrimination. 

This represents one of the biggest graduate student labor victories in the country and will transform thousands of grad workers’ lives. This is a summary of the tentative agreement. Over the next few days, our bargaining committee will share more details and recommendations for ratifying the contract. The full tentative agreement will be brought before the membership for a ratification vote, date TBD.

We could not be prouder to share this update with you. 

In solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee