After approval by both Cornell Graduate Students United, a union that represents the interests of graduate workers, and the University, the union’s first collective bargaining agreement was formally ratified on Friday. The contract ratification passed with 97 percent approval by CGSU.
CGSU, which is registered under the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, has negotiated with the University for a year, reaching a tentative agreement on March 25. The agreement included provisions such as an agency shop, just cause protections and pay raise increases. This tentative agreement, which underwent intense review by both bargaining committees, has officially been ratified.
After one year of negotiations between Cornell and the CGSU bargaining committee, the tentative agreement includes a 3.9 percent increase on the 12-month base stipend, a 100 percent TCAT pass subsidy and 12 vacation days per year for graduate student workers. Additionally, the parties agreed to dental and vision insurance and a one-time $750 matriculation payment provided to each graduate student worker, which can be used to cover the costs of applying or re-applying for visas.
On March 19, Cornell agreed to a modified agency shop in the tentative, now ratified, agreement. An agency shop is a workplace where union membership is not required, but all employees are required to pay an agency fee to the union representing them.
However, Cornell’s agency shop is modified to allow students who do not want to join or fund the union on “moral or ethical grounds” the option to donate the equivalent of their funds to a charity, according to a University spokesperson.
In a University statement sent on Friday, President Michael Kotlikoff and Provost Kavita Bala wrote, “We value the vital contributions of our graduate student workers to the university’s teaching and research missions, and we look forward to continuing our partnership under this new agreement.”
CGSU, who launched a strike pledge on March 13 before coming to a compromise with the University regarding the modified agency shop on March 19, additionally expressed satisfaction with the final contract.
According to an Instagram post by CGSU, once the contract was ratified, the organization vowed to “hold Cornell accountable to respecting our contract by enforcing all of the benefits, rights and protections we have received through our grievance procedure and the power of a union.”
Isabella Hanson is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a News Editor for the 143rd editorial board, and a former senior writer. She can be reached at ihanson@cornellsun.com.
