BU graduate workers strike
Thousands of Boston University graduate workers have walked off the job, officially going on strike as the union pushes for a “fair contract.”
The BU grad student workers launched their strike yesterday after more than eight months of contract negotiations with the university. The grad workers are calling for more pay, comprehensive health care, and stronger benefits such as child care subsidies.
The union with more than 3,000 grad workers started its strike with a rally on Marsh Plaza that included Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley.
“Graduate workers are critical members of the Boston University community,” Pressley said. “They deserve a contract that values both their labor and their humanity.
“They are dedicated teachers, mentors, and researchers who pour into our students daily and it’s time their contributions are recognized and justly compensated,” the congresswoman added. “As a former BU student and hotel worker, I am proud to stand with BU grad workers as they fight for a fair contract.”
BU grad workers are represented by SEIU 509, a union of human service providers and educators in Massachusetts. SEIU 509 has filed unfair labor practice charges against the university.
The grad workers are paid stipends that range from a minimum of $27,000 to about $40,000 per year. The positions are considered part-time jobs at 20 hours a week.
“For over eight months, we have been urging BU to bargain in good faith and provide the basic information our members need to bargain,” said David Foley, president of SEIU 509. “BU’s conduct continues to signal that they do not value the contributions of the workers that keep this university running, and we are committed to supporting our members as they fight for the fair contract they deserve.”
The university in response to the start of the strike said it was “concerned about the strike’s impact.”
“We value our graduate students and their many contributions to teaching and research and will continue to address their needs through the collective bargaining process,” BU said in a statement.
“At the same time, we are concerned about the strike’s impact on teaching, research, and the lives of thousands of other students, and we are working to minimize that disruption,” the university added. “We remain committed to improving the lives of our graduate students through negotiations and hope that process will bring the strike to an end quickly.”
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey wrote in support of the striking grad workers.
“I am in solidarity with @gradworkersofBU as they exercise their rights to strike for a fair contract that includes living wages, high quality health and dental care, and workload protections they have earned and deserve,” Markey posted.
The president of the Boston City Council, Ruthzee Louijeune, posted, “Grad workers are workers, and they deserve a strong & fair contact! In solidarity with @gradworkersofBU.”
The Boston Teachers Union also posted in support of the strike.
“We stand in #Solidarity with the @gradworkersofBU as they fight for a fair contract that respects their value and supports student success,” the teachers union posted.
According to the university’s publication BU Today, the university has offered a stipend increase to $42,159 in year one, and an overall jump of 13% over three years. The union is reportedly seeking stipends starting at $62,440.