Over the past month, UE locals have settled first contracts covering thousands of graduate workers at Stanford University and the University of Minnesota, bringing the total number of graduate workers brought under first contract in 2024 to approximately 15,000.

On November 22, UE Local 1043-Stanford Graduate Workers Union ratified a historic contract, containing strong protections against discrimination, harassment, and power abuse, wage increases of 13-16 percent over the life of the contract, and unprecedented protections against on-campus rent increases. The contract was settled after a protracted fight with the university, with the tentative agreement being reached only 12 hours before the union was set to go on strike.

On December 6, UE Local 1105 (University of Minnesota Graduate Labor Union) ratified its first contract, containing raises of over 20 percent for the lowest-paid workers, average immediate raises of 5 percent, and guaranteed 3.5 percent minimum annual raises. The contract includes a comprehensive grievance procedure, protections against health and safety violations, new targeted fee subsidies that will reduce fees by 50 percent for the most vulnerable workers, and 85 percent dependent healthcare premium coverage. It also includes time off for immigration and visa related proceedings, clear job descriptions, the ability to grieve non-reappointment decisions, and protection against overworking. This victory comes after nearly 15 months of negotiations with the university, with the tentative agreement being reached at 3 AM, only hours before the local’s strike authorization vote was to take place.

More detailed coverage will be published in the UE NEWS in the new year.