FOR RELEASE: Tuesday, March 12, 2024
Press Contact: Natalia Berthet Garcia
978-514-0336, nberthetgarcia@seiu509.org
Boston, MA – Today, graduate workers at Boston University voted by overwhelming majority to authorize their bargaining team to call for a strike. Approximately 3,000 graduate workers at BU are represented by SEIU Local 509, a union of human service providers and educators in Massachusetts.
Graduate workers won their union election in 2022, creating a pathway toward bargaining with the University over key issues they have identified throughout their organizing: a living wage, workload protections, and stronger health care, child care, and family leave benefits. They have been in contract negotiations since 2023.
The strike authorization vote comes after eight months of negotiations with the University for their first contract. SEIU 509 has filed five unfair labor practice (ULP) charges against the university for multiple issues, including failing to provide information needed to identify workers in the bargaining unit.
“We are extremely disappointed in BU’s unlawful conduct and refusal to provide the basic information our members need to bargain effectively,” said David Foley, SEIU 509 President. “Graduate workers play a vital role in contributing to BU’s success and in shaping the experience of students across campus. Their work as teachers, mentors, and researchers are an invaluable part of what keeps the university running. They are sending a clear message to BU: we are prepared to take action to secure a fair agreement that reflects the value of our work and addresses our needs.”
Graduate workers are paid stipends that range from a minimum of $27,000 to approximately $40,000 per year. According to the MIT living wage calculator, the required annual income before taxes to make a living wage in Boston is around $62,000 per year.
“This isn’t just about fair pay; it’s about ensuring that the workers who keep the university running can lead dignified lives without the constant worry of financial instability,” said Meiya Sparks Lin, a graduate worker in the English department. “This year, my rent was raised by $350 per month, and as the cost of living continues to rise here in Boston, this work is increasingly unsustainable for many of us. We are prepared to take action to change our working conditions and win a strong contract.”
The university’s existing health care plans pose significant barriers for graduate workers seeking medical care. Out-of-pocket costs are high for prescriptions, specialists, and hospital stays. In order to upgrade the free plan and add dependents, workers must pay an out-of-pocket fee of $1,400 and an additional cost of $5,000 per dependent.
“Last fall, I had to pay a $14,000 lump sum in order to cover the health insurance premiums for my family of four,” said Blair Stowe, a graduate worker in the Theology department. “How can BU expect me to make this work on a stipend of $26,000 a year? I am not the only parent feeling this way, and our problems are not individual failures – they are a result of the university failing to provide what we need.”
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SEIU Local 509 is a labor union representing more than 20,000 human service workers and educators throughout Massachusetts. We provide a variety of social services and educational services in both public and private sector settings. From mental health clinicians and social workers to early childhood educators and university workers, Local 509 members are united in our mission to raise living standards for working families while improving the quality and affordability of the services we provide.
