Strike by graduate workers at Stanford averted, union reaches tentative agreement with university

On Tuesday, the Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU) called off a strike planned for Wednesday morning after reaching a preliminary contract agreement with the university. SGWU will announce the university’s full offering on Wednesday, which members can vote on.

“We have been able to get enough movement from Stanford to reach a preliminary agreement tonight on a complete contract that we can recommend.” SGWU wrote to its members on Tuesday evening. “That is why we are calling off the strike at this time.”

The Daily contacted the university and SGWU for comment.

After a break in negotiations last Thursday – when the university demanded the union change its position on wages before negotiating other issues – the SGWU accelerated strike plans on Tuesday.

The university resumed negotiations with the union on Monday, which took place under pressure from students and teachers, SGWU said. After 14 hours of negotiations on Monday, the union postponed the planned strike until Wednesday, explaining that they had made “progress,” and resumed negotiations on Tuesday morning.

The provisional agreement follows one year of negotiations. Since then, the union has largely pushed the university to do so increase wages, arguing that Stanford’s wages are inadequate compared to comparable institutions and the cost of living in the Bay Area, according to SGWU’s cost-of-living calculations.

The union’s economic demands include a wage increase exceeds inflation and rental costs, to prevent workers from facing “food insecurity and other financial concerns.” The university has done this consistently claimed that its offering is competitive with comparable institutions.

After the university offered a 4.5% increase last Wednesday – its highest offer to date – the union rejected it, arguing it remained insufficient due to high interest rates. cost of living in Santa Clara County.

The union has maintained During the strike planning, they hoped to avoid one, and they would if the university offered a “fair contract.”