{"id":60956,"date":"2024-03-21T12:31:23","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T16:31:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/?page_id=60956"},"modified":"2026-05-27T14:16:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T18:16:18","slug":"negotiations-updates","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/provost\/offices-contacts\/reporting-areas\/graduate-affairs\/bugwu-information\/negotiations-updates\/","title":{"rendered":"Archive: Negotiations Updates (July 2023 – October 2024)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Boston University\u2019s negotiations team, made up of faculty and staff from Labor Relations, the Office of the Provost, the Office of General Counsel, and the College of Arts & Sciences, met continuously with the Boston University Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU) from July 2023 – October 2024 to reach a resolution. These negotiations sessions concluded in October 2024 with BUGWU’s ratification of a collective bargaining agreement. The following are summaries of those sessions, as compiled by BU’s negotiations team.<\/span><\/p>\n

October 10, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On October 10 the University met with BUGWU for two hours, joined by the federal mediator. The session was focused on discussing outstanding items and questions from the Union regarding return to work issues. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

October 1, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On October 1 the University met with BUGWU for two hours, joined by the federal mediator. The majority of the session was focused on discussing outstanding items related to the return to work proposal. At the conclusion of the session, the parties discussed dates for the next bargaining session.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

September 25, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On September 25 the University met with BUGWU for a one hour session, joined by the federal mediator. The parties met to discuss outstanding items, including the Union\u2019s questions regarding the University\u2019s latest <\/span><\/span>package proposal<\/span><\/span><\/a>. The next scheduled bargaining session is for Tuesday, October 1.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

September 12, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On September 12 the University met with BUGWU for two hours, joined by the federal mediator. The session began with the Union presenting counterproposals on Access Needs and Duration, followed by a discussion on Management Rights. After a discussion on the changes to the articles, the Union requested to caucus.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n

When the parties returned from caucus, the Union presented a Caste Protection side letter. Following this presentation, the Union asked questions about the University\u2019s proposed Recognition article.\u00a0 At the conclusion of the session, the Union requested to meet prior to the next scheduled bargaining session on October 1<\/span><\/span>st<\/span><\/sup><\/span>. The University team agreed to review any additional proposed dates.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

September 6, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On September 6 the University met with BUGWU for two hours, joined by the federal mediator. The session began with the BU Administration team presenting counterproposals on Duration, Access, and Nondiscrimination to address the three key concerns identified by the Union in the August 27 session. The University stated that these changes had been incorporated into an updated package proposal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

After a discussion on the changes to the articles, the Union requested to caucus. When the parties returned from caucus, the Union raised questions regarding payment for workers during the past week. The Union also discussed a possible return to work agreement if the strike were to end and asked questions about the University\u2019s edits to the Access Needs proposal.\u00a0 <\/span>The Union concluded the session by stating that they would take the new comprehensive proposal to their membership. <\/span><\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

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August 27, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On August 27 the University met with BUGWU, joined by the federal mediator. The session began with BUGWU providing an overview of outstanding proposals. The Union then presented their rejection of the BU Administration\u2019s most recent proposals on Nondiscrimination, Duration, and Access Needs. The parties discussed these proposals. The Union clarified that it is seeking a contract duration of less than five years. The BU Administration team shared that the <\/span><\/span>package proposal<\/span><\/span><\/a> presented on August 7 remains on the table. Following a caucus, the parties returned to the main session where the BU Administration team reiterated the request to have a ratification vote for the August 7 package proposal. The BU Administration team also offered an additional bargaining session for September 6. Following this discussion, the Union requested to caucus with the federal mediator. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/o:p> <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

August 22, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On August 22 the University met with BUGWU, joined by the federal mediator. The session began with the Union sharing that it had 18 counterproposals to present in response to the BU Administration\u2019s <\/span><\/span>package proposal<\/span><\/a><\/span> presented on August 7. The Union\u2019s presentation included responses to the following articles: Commuting Benefits, Compensation, Duration, Back Pay, Health & Safety, Childcare, International Worker Rights, Benefits, PTO, Nondiscrimination, Professional Development, Appointments, Transitional Funding, Recognition, Management Rights, No Strike\/No Lockout, Help Fund, and an Appendix to Compensation. Various members of BUGWU presented the Union\u2019s responses to these articles. The Union shared that the parties are close to a Tentative Agreement on the Professional Development and Appointments articles. Following this, the University team requested that its August 7 package proposal be put forth for a ratification vote by the Union\u2019s full membership. The Union clarified that it was put forth at a general membership meeting. The University team shared that they are willing to meet at the next bargaining session if the Union is willing to come close to the University\u2019s package proposal. <\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n

August 7, 2024 <\/h5>
<\/p>\n

On August 7 the University team again met with BUGWU, joined by BU Provost and Chief Academic Officer Gloria Waters and the federal mediator. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Provost Waters began the session by introducing herself and sharing her background and experience at Boston University. She discussed the important role of graduate workers within the University community, to their academic fields, and to her work personally as an academic and researcher. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Provost Waters then introduced a final, comprehensive <\/span>package proposal<\/span><\/a> on behalf of the University, reflecting significant movement in several key areas:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n