Boston College grad employees have ended their strike after practically seven months, ratifying their first union contract because the lowest-paid PhD employees might be receiving a couple of 70% increase, based on the union.
The ratification vote of 87% “yes” ends the longest union-authorized work stoppage amongst U.S. college scholar staff in not less than a decade.
The graduate employees, represented by SEIU Native 509, initiated the strike following eight months of stalled negotiations with BU.
“This contract fight highlights the true power of unions,” Dave Foley, SEIU 509 president, mentioned in an announcement. “When workers come together to take bold, collective action, they can transform their working conditions.
“We are incredibly proud of our members for holding the line – their tenacity and solidarity sustained them through nearly seven months of striking, and ultimately secured a contract that sets a strong foundation for the future,” Foley added.
One of many prime highlights within the contract is elevated wages. The unit’s lowest-paid PhD employees might be receiving round a 70% increase.
The minimal PhD annual stipend charge might be $45,000, and the minimal hourly wage might be $20 per hour. There might be an annual wage adjustment of three% in annually of the three-year contract.
Additionally, there might be expansions of well being care protection. Employees can add dependents beneath 6 years previous to their plans for free of charge. PhD employees can even have entry to backed dental insurance coverage.
There might be childcare subsidies for graduate employees with households, and stipend employees are eligible for 14 weeks of paid depart for childbirth or adoption.
Commuter advantages embrace the choice of a 50% backed MBTA cross or reimbursement for bike commuters.
“I’m really proud of the organizing work my co-workers and the union did,” mentioned Freddy Reiber, a graduate employee within the Information Science division. “We stood strong and had each other’s backs in what I think is the longest graduate worker strike in at least a decade.
“We’ve won significant improvements in our wages and benefits, and that was only possible because of the strength of our membership and the support from the labor community,” Reiber added. “Of course, the fight isn’t over. We’ve got a solid foundation and are already thinking about the next contract so that we can help create a more equitable BU.”
The contract might be efficient till August 2027.
The brand new stipends and advantages within the contract had been supplied by the college in August throughout negotiations with the union.
“I appreciate and respect all of the time and effort our graduate students have put into understanding the needs of their fellow students, and advocating for the needs of all graduate students,” mentioned Gloria Waters, college provost and chief educational officer. “In the end, I think that the agreement we have come to is fair and competitive with our peers.
“Providing 12 months of guaranteed funding for all students, not just those in STEM fields, is particularly important and will enhance both the lives and educational experience of our students,” Waters added. “I very much appreciate the willingness of our faculty to take on the additional work created by the strike, to ensure that the education of our undergraduates was not interrupted. I also appreciate the countless hours that members of our negotiating team have put in over many months to allow us to come to this agreement.”
Initially Printed:
