Update on the Latest Bargaining Session with SENS-UAW Local 7902, Academic Student Workers
| A message from Sonya Williams, Vice President for Human Resources The university bargaining team met on Friday with SENS-UAW Local 7902, the union representing our Academic Student Workers. During the session, the union presented new proposals, including childcare reimbursement, various paid leaves, and other related benefits; transportation and commuter benefits; reproductive and gender affirming care; and expanded mental health and counseling access. The union also presented a package proposal involving Non-Discrimination and Harassment, Disability Rights and Access, Management Rights, Anti-Bullying, and No-Strike-No Lockout provisions. While the university came prepared to provide responses to Academic Student Worker Rights and Responsibilities and Non-Discrimination and Harassment, the university is holding on its Non-Discrimination response as it considers the union’s latest proposal. We presented the counter to Academic Student Worker Rights and Responsibilities as planned. We are committed to listening to the issues that the union raised and are reviewing all of the their proposals. We look forward to getting back to the bargaining table on October 27, November 10 and December 1 to discuss them further. The union has limited each meeting to two hours, while the university would prefer to meet for longer periods of time to make greater progress since there are a number of proposals from the university’s initial offer which still await a response from the union. In particular the union has not responded to the university’s wage proposal, which includes a 29% pay increase over six years. For example, under the university’s proposal, Teaching Fellows who work 20 hours per week would be paid $542.40 more per pay period, Teaching Assistants would be paid $406.80 more per pay period, and Research Associates/Assistants would be paid $271 more per pay period by the end of the contract. We are committed to remaining transparent throughout the process and will share updates on our Union Negotiations page. You can also stay updated by signing up for email updates here, and by following @knowournewschool on Twitter/X and Instagram. |