Our twentieth bargaining session offered no movement from the university on our core issues and we notice disturbing trends in the university backsliding in negotiations since Trump’s inauguration.
For example, the university countered our article that prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation with changes allowing them to not use workers’ proper pronouns in official employment records and can deadname trans workers as necessary to comply preemptively with federal executive orders that are not yet official law. Does this sound like a university that will ensure its workers rights are protected? However, during these unsettling times, we have collective power on our side, and there will always be strength in our union.
This bargaining session also focused on pressing economic issues, and the committee put together a short presentation about the university’s current economic proposal, which is shockingly inadequate to address the real needs of our members. The discrepancies between the economic benefits that other universities provide and those that Northeastern proposes are exceptionally stark. Instead of acknowledging the significant challenges we face and seeking a compromise that would ensure its workers have the means to live in one of the most expensive cities in America, the university remains steadfast in its strategy to pretend that its own economic proposal is adequate.
Despite the litany of reasons we provided for why the university’s economic plan is insufficient, the university ignored our asks, which were taken directly from our workers, such as vision coverage, childcare subsidies, and support for transportation costs.
As we’ve seen in the last two bargaining sessions, the university is currently refusing to offer substantive compromises to help reach a contract that the majority of grad workers will vote to accept. They even passed us a document highlighting the major points of contention between the university and union for each article, framing the stalls in bargaining as the direct fault of the union for presenting “unreasonable” asks. Are protections for international graduate workers against the Trump administration “unreasonable”? Or funds that help mitigate the cost of transportation to campus? Or livable wages and comprehensive healthcare for our workers and their families?
As the university continues stalling, dismissing, and disrespecting us on every single issue. We need to show them, collectively, that this is unacceptable.
What can you do to help ensure that we win a strong contract?
- Observe Bargaining! Register to attend our next Bargaining Session in-person or over Zoom (Details TBA). We strongly encourage you to attend in person if you’re able. Admin moves when more observers are in the room!
- Get Involved in Organizing! Reply to this email and organizers will reach out to talk about how you can help.
In Solidarity,
GENU-UAW Bargaining Committee