Graduate student workers set Nov. 28 strike deadline
Wage increases, union shop and nondiscrimination remain key sticking points.
By BENJAMIN GAMSON
The Graduate Student Workers Organizing Committee announced Monday morning on social media that its members will strike beginning Nov. 28 if an agreement is not reached between the union and USC.
“USC administration has until November 28th to come to the table with fair offers and stop committing unfair labor practices,” GSWOC wrote.
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The announcement came during a day of bargaining Monday, during which the University and graduate student workers went back and forth on multiple proposals — including options for a highly contentious economic package.
The wage package USC offered the union Monday gave GSWs $37,000 for the next academic year, raising by 3% for each of the following two years.
GSWOC countered, requesting a $4,000 wage-supplement before the end of the current academic year. Per its proposal, minimum pay would be raised to $43,000 during the next academic year and wages would be raised further by 7% in both of the following two years.
USC responded with its previous proposal, except for one new clause on timely pay, saying the University “will make best efforts” to pay graduate student workers monthly.
“USC barely made any movement today and so our position is that USC could give us a fair contract tomorrow, but they are holding out in this key area,” said Jackie Johnson, a member of the bargaining team and fifth-year doctoral candidate studying cinema and media studies.
Despite disagreements on wages, the University and GSWs reached tentative agreements on three proposals Monday, including parking permits and sick leave. These developments bring the number of agreements between the University and GSWs to 24 out of 33 issues, or 73%.
There have been no counter proposals on other contentious issues that are top priorities for graduate student workers, such as the nondiscrimination clause and the creation of a union shop, which would require all union members to pay dues and non-members to pay an agency fee. The last proposal from USC on the nondiscrimination article was Oct. 16 and the last proposal on a union shop was Aug. 17.
“We need to see real movement from USC in some of these areas that we’ve spoken about or graduate student workers — as they demonstrated at the last chance picket — are willing and ready to walk the job,” Johnson said.
Graduate student workers held a “last chance picket” Thursday in three locations at University Park Campus and one location at Health Sciences Campus to exemplify their willingness to strike. The next bargaining session is scheduled for next Monday.
