Update On Continued Bargaining 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, to continue dialogue towards a renewed agreement.
At this session, the university and the union reached agreement on ground rules for community attendance at future bargaining meetings. Going forward, the university and union bargaining committee members will attend sessions in person, with the broader community—anyone with an active New School email address—able to observe via Zoom. The university and the union will rotate responsibility for making a Zoom link available for each session. The sessions will not be recorded or made publicly accessible, out of concerns raised by the union that international students involved in bargaining might face backlash from their home countries for participation in labor activity. Meeting attendees who are not on the bargaining teams will remain muted throughout the bargaining session and the Zoom chat will remain closed. Those who intend to observe negotiations are expected to abide by the no recording agreement reached by the university and the union. Additionally, both the university and the union agreed to publish their proposals on their respective websites for The New School community to view after each session.
The union presented two counterproposals and four new proposals that the university will carefully consider, including:
- An expense reimbursement proposal for job-related supplies and materials
- A new proposal related to appointments, reappointments and protected activities to guarantee continuity of work
- A new proposal for international and non-citizen workers rights and sanctuary campus rights, including:
- The university serving as a guarantor for apartment leasing;
- A legal fund for international and non-citizen students; and
- Guaranteed post-completion Optional Practical Training (OPT) employment after graduation.
During the session the union also presented their compensation proposal. The university now has a better understanding of the union’s full economic ask for its approximately 1000 members, which includes:
- ‌‌A 40% wage increase in year one of the new contract; and a 13.5% increase in years two and three respectively.
- ‌A Curriculum Development Fee and new minimum pay rate of $25/hour for additional duties and for any new Academic Student Worker positions.
- ‌‌A 100% health care insurance waiver for Academic Student Workers and their dependents.
- ‌‌A 100% Tuition Waiver for Academic Student Workers and their dependents
- ‌‌A University Services Fee waiver.
- ‌‌A professional development fund of $50k each academic year.
The university presented a package of proposals including: updates to hiring and onboarding procedures, disability rights and access, sharing of bargaining unit information, and non-discrimination and harassment policies. On this issue, the university reiterated that it denounces harassment and bullying in all forms and shares the desire to ensure a safe, supportive environment. Our counterproposal on this article mirrors the language already agreed to by the part-time faculty union and reconfirms the university’s commitment to ensuring an environment free of discrimination and sexual and other discriminatory harassment.
Moving forward, both parties have agreed to settle all non-economic proposals before discussing any economic proposals such as the wage and compensation proposal presented by the union. We look forward to continuing the dialogue at our next sessions on November 10 and December 1.
Links to observe bargaining sessions will be posted on our Union Negotiations page prior to each session. You can stay updated by signing up for email updates here, and by following @knowournewschool on Twitter/X and Instagram.