Graduate Student Employees Continue Bargaining, Reach More Agreements and Extend Contract
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The University of California and the United Auto Workers (UAW) 4811 resumed negotiations on January 26th through the 28th for a new bargaining agreement for Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) and Academic Student Employees (ASEs).
During the three days of bargaining, UC and UAW both passed substantial proposals and side letters. On January 28th, UAW passed packages that included a counter on wages and other economic items, and in total, the parties exchanged proposals on 20 issues, including: ASE Workload, Childcare, Fee Remission, GSR Time and Effort, Health Benefits, Immigration, No Strikes, Parking and Transit, and Union Access and Rights.
Tentative agreements were reached on Holidays and ASE Workload. Additionally, the parties agreed to a one-month contract extension, and the contracts now expire on February 28, 2026.
To date, the two parties have reached tentative agreements on 22 articles, or nearly half of the contract’s articles, side letters, and addenda.
Previously, the University presented a comprehensive economic proposal that reflects UC’s commitment to meaningful total compensation while sustaining its teaching, research, and student support mission in a challenging funding environment. The proposal, built around a total compensation approach, recognizes wages as one component of the support provided to graduate students while they complete their degrees. Read UC’s Fact Sheet on the Economic Proposal and Total Compensation.
UC remains committed to reaching an agreement that fairly supports graduate student employees while sustaining the academic excellence and research enterprise that define our institution.
The UC and the UAW are actively discussing scheduling for the next bargaining session in February.
Learn how contracts are bargained on UCnet.