Boston University grad workers have ended their strike after nearly seven months, ratifying their first union contract as the lowest-paid PhD workers will be receiving about a 70% raise, according to the union.
The ratification vote of 87% “yes” ends the longest union-authorized work stoppage among U.S. university student employees in at least a decade.
The graduate workers, represented by SEIU Local 509, initiated the strike following eight months of stalled negotiations with BU.
“This contract fight highlights the true power of unions,” Dave Foley, SEIU 509 president, said in a statement. “When workers come together to take bold, collective action, they can transform their working conditions.
“We are incredibly proud of our members for holding the line – their tenacity and solidarity sustained them through nearly seven months of striking, and ultimately secured a contract that sets a strong foundation for the future,” Foley added.
One of the top highlights in the contract is increased wages. The unit’s lowest-paid PhD workers will be receiving around a 70% raise.
The minimum PhD annual stipend rate will be $45,000, and the minimum hourly wage will be $20 per hour. There will be an annual salary adjustment of 3% in each year of the three-year contract.
Also, there will be expansions of health care coverage. Workers can add dependents under 6 years old to their plans at no cost. PhD workers can also have access to subsidized dental insurance.
There will be childcare subsidies for graduate workers with families, and stipend workers are eligible for 14 weeks of paid leave for childbirth or adoption.
Commuter benefits include the option of a 50% subsidized MBTA pass or reimbursement for bike commuters.
“I’m really proud of the organizing work my co-workers and the union did,” said Freddy Reiber, a graduate worker in the Data Science department. “We stood strong and had each other’s backs in what I think is the longest graduate worker strike in at least a decade.
“We’ve won significant improvements in our wages and benefits, and that was only possible because of the strength of our membership and the support from the labor community,” Reiber added. “Of course, the fight isn’t over. We’ve got a solid foundation and are already thinking about the next contract so that we can help create a more equitable BU.”
The contract will be effective until August 2027.
The new stipends and benefits in the contract were offered by the university in August during negotiations with the union.
“I appreciate and respect all of the time and effort our graduate students have put into understanding the needs of their fellow students, and advocating for the needs of all graduate students,” said Gloria Waters, university provost and chief academic officer. “In the end, I think that the agreement we have come to is fair and competitive with our peers.
“Providing 12 months of guaranteed funding for all students, not just those in STEM fields, is particularly important and will enhance both the lives and educational experience of our students,” Waters added. “I very much appreciate the willingness of our faculty to take on the additional work created by the strike, to ensure that the education of our undergraduates was not interrupted. I also appreciate the countless hours that members of our negotiating team have put in over many months to allow us to come to this agreement.”
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