Graduate workers union launches strike authorization ballot, urges members to reject University contract

The Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU) launched a two-item ballot on Wednesday for members to vote on Stanford’s proposed contract and strike authorization. The ballot will be open through next Wednesday. 

The union will begin a strike on Nov. 12 if the strike authorization vote passes and the University does not “adequately improve their offer,” according to a SGWU press release.

“A majority of graduate workers are expected to vote to reject Stanford’s insufficient contract offer and authorize a strike,” the union wrote.

The SGWU bargaining committee is unanimously asking its members to vote against the proposed contract and vote for strike authorization. If a majority of members vote in favor of authorizing a strike, the bargaining committee can choose to call a strike at their discretion, based on how negotiations proceed with the University. 

The strike authorization vote comes after the University failed to reach the Oct. 24 deadline set by the bargaining committee to propose a “fair contract,” which would include fair wages, nondiscrimination protections and improved benefits. The University has stated that no deadline on negotiations exists when bargaining with SGWU. 

Nearly a year after the SWGU initiated negotiations with the University, the bargaining committee has signed several tentative agreements that align with their demands. In bargaining sessions on Monday and Tuesday, the SGWU also made progress on issues such as healthcare, benefits and discrimination protection. 

Since an Oct. 2 rally, over 2,300 members have signed a form pledging to strike in the event that the strike authorization vote passes and the bargaining committee calls on members to strike. SGWU has stated that these pledges have put positive pressure on the University to accept their demands. 

The University has consistently asserted that its proposals to the union are more competitive than those of peer institutions, in contrast with the union’s economic compensation comparisons, which they have provided to the University to explain their negotiation positions. 

“I hope we’ll be able to negotiate to a successful outcome without getting to a work stoppage,” University president Jon Levin ’94 said in an interview with The Daily. “That’s the best outcome… we kind of get past the current differences and get to an agreement.”

In a statement to The Daily, the University wrote that it is “cconstructively engaged in the process and remains committed to negotiating with UE-SGWU until an agreement is reached.” 

The Daily reached out to SGWU for comment. 

The University’s proposed contract includes a two-percent wage increase and multiple benefits in areas such as healthcare and professional development. However, SGWU remains unsatisfied with the raise, stating that wages would not keep pace with the 4.5% increase in Stanford-set rents this year.

The SGWU has stated that Stanford can avert their planned strike if the University proposes a fair contract by Nov. 12. However, according to SGWU, the University’s Monday proposal still does not meet their demands.

“Should Stanford continue to refuse to pay their graduate workers a living wage, thousands of workers are prepared to strike in less than two weeks,” SGWU wrote in the press release.

George Porteous contributed reporting.

The post Graduate workers union launches strike authorization ballot, urges members to reject University contract appeared first on The Stanford Daily.