Boston University’s Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU) members have voted overwhelmingly to approve a new three-year contract, after a seven-month strike that has had widespread impact across the University. Photo by Mike Spencer

University News

Seven-Month Strike Ends as BU Graduate Workers Union Ratifies Contract

Union calls deal “significant improvements in our wages and benefits”

The longest strike in Boston University’s history, and one of the longest in recent years in higher education, is over, as BU’s Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU) has voted overwhelmingly to approve a three-year contract after a seven-month strike that has had widespread impact across the University.

The union’s first contract was ratified with 87 percent in favor and 13 percent against. The union has approximately 3,000 master’s, professional, and PhD graduate students who assist faculty with teaching and research. One of the last issues that held up the agreement was the two sides reaching a return-to-work plan for union members, and once that was finalized, it cleared the way for the ratification vote to begin. The contract is effective through August 2027.

“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,” Freddy Reiber, a data science graduate student worker, said in a statement. “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.”

In a press release from the union, Eric Munson, a graduate worker in the College of Arts & Sciences computer science department, called the new contract a “culmination of three years of work to raise standards” for graduate workers and their families. “As a parent, going on strike was not easy for me or my family. But my coworkers and I understood that taking collective action was our only option to ensure that future graduate workers would have more support for themselves and their families while pursuing their academic careers.” 

Under the contract terms, BU will continue to cover the tuition of PhD students within the five-year funding guarantee, which is currently $64,000 annually. And BU will continue to cover health insurance for PhD students without their having to share the cost of premiums, a benefit valued between $3,400 and $4,500 per year. The University will also cover the cost of adding dependents through age six to the Student Health Services plan.

Other benefits or changes in the contract include:

• A $3,500 annual childcare subsidy for households below a certain income cap;
• An increase from 8 weeks to 14 weeks in paid childcare leave for full-time, stipended graduate students who are new parents.
• An annual “help fund” of $200,000 to support graduate students with a variety of emergency needs.
• Transportation benefits for all workers in the unit, who would receive either a 50 percent MBTA subsidy or bicycle commuter reimbursement benefits.
• $100 yearly toward dental insurance for each stipended, full-time PhD student.

BUGWU is part of SEIU Local 509, which represents human service workers and educators in Massachusetts. Talks with BU on a contract started back in July 2023, and some members first went on strike in March as they pushed for increased stipends and better benefits. BUGWU students, which include teaching assistants and teaching fellows, are paid for up to 20 hours of work per week. They spend additional time as students also fulfilling course requirements and doing dissertation research. 

“We believe we have come to a competitive agreement with our graduate student workers that supports their experience at BU and will enhance their quality of life,” BU Provost Gloria Waters says. “We look forward to welcoming our students back to work, and to the many contributions they will continue to make to the academic mission of Boston University.”

“This contract fight highlights the true power of unions,” Dave Foley, SEIU 509 president, says in the union’s 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.”