Bargaining Continues with SENS-UAW Local 7902, Academic Student Workers
A Message from Sonya Williams, Vice President for Human Resources
Negotiating teams from the university and SENS-UAW Local 7902, the union representing our Academic Student Workers, continued discussions towards a new contract today.
We are committed to reaching an agreement quickly and came to the table with a revised economic package that includes enhanced wage increases for all Academic Student Workers, above the 29% in our initial July 17 proposal; enhanced healthcare and dependent care benefits; and other proposed benefits enhancements. The offer also provides a $350 ratification bonus. You can read the university’s revised offer here. The university has several packages on the table that address all open issues, and we look forward to hearing the union’s response.
As you may know, the union has voted to authorize a strike. This is a procedural step that gives union leadership the right to call a strike if they chose to do so, but it does not mean an actual strike is planned or will occur. While we respect the union’s right to strike, we hope that they will instead choose to continue bargaining in good faith towards a new agreement that works for everyone. We are committed to listening to their concerns and to find solutions that reflect the needs of our Academic Student Workers and the long-term interests of our community as a whole.
The bargaining teams are set to meet again on March 1 and March 8. The university continues to suggest meeting on a more intensive schedule to move negotiations along.
We appreciate the important role that our Academic Student Workers play at The New School and hope to have agreement on a fair and competitive contract soon. We will continue to keep you updated.
For more information, visit our Union Negotiations page. You can also follow @KnowOurNewSchool on Instagram and @KnowNewSchool on Twitter/X for the latest updates.