Grad Workers’ ratification election closed today at 5:00 PM. 2,635 Grad Workers cast a ballot: 2,604 (99%) voted to ratify the Agreement, and 31 voted against ratification. 77% of Graduate Workers participated in the election. Graduate Workers’ Agreement with the Penn administration has been ratified and it is now our first union contract.
This contract secures historic raises, bringing the overwhelming majority of Grad Workers to a living wage. It improves our benefits—from vision and dental coverage and reimbursements for visa renewal costs to childcare grants and 50% coverage of dependent healthcare. Penn Grad Workers won historic improvements that are almost unheard of in our sector, including retirement benefits and six weeks of paid medical leave. And the contract enshrines our right to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and unjust discipline.
Now, it’s time to build the infrastructure that Grad Workers will need to enforce our contract and negotiate another great one two years from now. If you have not done so already, sign up as a dues-paying member of GETUP-UAW today.
Grad Workers should not forget that we won these things because of our collective power. During the past year, our public action has grown. Hundreds of Grad Workers packed the bargaining room and demonstrated on the street. And thousands of us signed petitions, voted to authorize a strike, and ultimately prepared to withhold our labor together to win what we deserve. It was only at midnight of our strike deadline that Penn admin came to the table with acceptable proposals. It is clear that to enforce this agreement and win another in two years, we must continue to build our power. Now we will do so as union members, under a strong, transformative contract.