Hello,
We want to inform you of some updates as we continue bargaining with the administration. Northeastern offered a comprehensive proposal, i.e., a “full” contract, at the end of our last session. We are rejecting their proposal for several reasons, but to name some highlights:
- They want to exclude a significant number of our members from the unit (some hourly workers and salaried masters student workers)
- The 2.5% raises that they offered are well below inflation and the average raises that our colleagues at other institutions have achieved with their unions
- They offered only ~$100 per graduate worker for dental and vision care (excluding masters student workers)
- It is missing several key contract articles that are standard at other universities like
- They offered no mechanism to enforce Harassment and Discrimination protections
- It lacks a robust Grievance and Arbitration process, which is how we enforce the contract
- Most crucially, the University proposed to retain all rights to change the terms and conditions of the contract at any time without notice or permission from the union
Northeastern’s proposal seeks to codify the status quo without our actual participation in the process. This is why we ask you to PLEASE fill out your bargaining survey by Wednesday the 21st at midnight. Your responses dictate what goes into our contract and how fiercely we bargain over certain issues. We finally have the power to make positive changes to our working conditions instead of having changes that only benefit the administration forced upon us. Let’s come together and win the contract that we deserve.
In Solidarity,
GENU-UAW Bargaining Committee
P.S. If you are willing to dedicate at least 1 hour per week to helping us ensure that our first contract is strong, please join the Contract Action Team.