GAU Bargaining Blog: Update #4
The previous GAU Contract reached its expiration date. Here’s what
you need to know!
Our last GAU Contract with URI was scheduled to expire on Wednesday,
August 31st, 2022. This was the date agreed upon when our contracts were
extended one year, during the impact bargaining with the University
following the pandemic peak in Spring 2020. This expiration date has passed
before a new contract has been agreed upon and ratified.
So, what does this mean for graduate students at URI?
In previous contract negotiations, we’ve worked with the University to
establish that when the contract expires before the new contract is in place,
our grad TAs will continue to operate under the protection of the
previous contract in the interim. Until the new contract is in place, we
remain protected by our previous bargaining efforts and carry out our
responsibilities as they are outlined under the previous contract.
TAs should continue to perform their TA duties in their regular capacity. This
means you should still sign your TA contract (as long as the document is
accurate) and continue to work as you normally would.
What about getting paid? TAs will still be paid on the usual pay schedule!
The pay amount you receive will reflect the previous contract, until the new
contract is ratified. Once there is a new contract formally on the books, any
financial changes will be paid to TAs, retroactively from the date of the
previous contract’s expiration. We’ll be able to provide more information on
what that will look like once the financial aspects of the contract have been
agreed upon and ratified.
In the meantime, contract negotiations are continuing, and we’ll provide
more updates soon! During negotiations and always, please feel free to
reach out to GAU with any questions, stories, ideas, concerns, or
encouragement! We want to hear from you! You can contact GAU directly at
uri.gau@gmail.com and come see us at upcoming GAU events.
In Solidarity,
URI Graduate Assistants United
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