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2024 Boston University strikes

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2024 Boston University strike
DateMarch 25, 2024 (2024-03-25) - present
(7 months, 1 week and 1 day)
Location
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Goals
  • Increased wages
  • Healthcare and childcare benefits
  • Disability and public health protections
  • Parent and caregiver protections
Methods
StatusIn progress
Parties
  • Boston University Graduate Workers Union

The 2024 Boston University strike is an ongoing labor strike in Boston, Massachusetts by graduate student workers at Boston University. The strike began on March 25, 2024, and was organized by the Boston University Graduate Workers United labor union in affiliation with Service Employees International Union Local 509.

Background

Unionization Efforts

In 1979, Boston University had experienced seen a strike as a result of backlash over policies by the university's president John Silber.[1] The union behind this strike, the Boston University - American Association of University Professors, would find themselves decertified following a ruling NLRB v. Yeshiva University stating that university professors were not protected under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935.[2] The university would not see another major strike until 45 years later following a 2016 National Labor Relations Board decision that allowed graduate students to unionize.[3]

The university's graduate workers had began organizing efforts in late 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in an effort to implement a safer workplace. Graduate workers would then vote to affiliate with Service Employees International Union Local 509 in mid-2021, which also represents adjunct professors, lecturers, and residential advisors.[4] They would then begin a successful public campaign of union authorization forms beginning September 2022 for improvements in wages, workload protections, health care and coverage, international student support, and housing, voting 1,414 to 28 in December 2022 in favor of unionization, forming the Boston University Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU).[5][6]

Contract negotiations

BUGWU would seek negotiations with Boston University's negotiation team starting in July 2023, holding at least one session a month.[7] The first meeting would see two articles proposed, with the total number since expanding to 38, of with four have been rejected and six reaching a tentative agreement as of April 2024.[8]

Disagreements in pay, health care, and benefits would lead to BUGWU moving towards voting to authorize a strike. The union would move towards a strike by citing the MIT living wage calculator's estimation of $62,000 a year to live in Boston as being significantly above the their pay of $27,000-$40,000 a year and greater access to healthcare for workers and their dependents.[9][10] They have also highlighted freedom from rent burden, 12-month stipends, disability and public health protections, and parent and caregiver protections.[11] BUGWU would hold a strike authorization vote from February 28 to March 11, 2024, with 90% voting in favor.[12] They would also file an Unfair Labor Practice with the NLRB against the university, totaling six as of April 2024.[13][14]

Strike

On March 25 at noon, BUGWU would begin their strike with a rally at Marsh Plaza, the center of the school's campus.[15] This included speeches by graduate workers, Representative Ayanna Pressley, whose district includes the university, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who represents Massachusetts. BUGWU stated that they will continue to picket on weekdays at both the Charles River and Medical campuses until their demands are met.[16]

Support

Various people and groups have shared their support for BUGWU, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont,[17] SAG-AFTRA,[18] Boston City Council,[19] State Representative Mike Connolly,[20] the university's student government,[21] and other graduate and teacher unions.

University Reaction

Boston University's Office of the Provost would update their payroll policy as a result of the strike, withholding pay from striking employees. The university would send out surveys to graduate workers who receive stipends, which BUGWU urged their workers to not fill out without speaking to union representatives.[22] In response, BUGWU would file an Unfair Labor Practice with the NLRB against the university alleging wage theft.[23]

Artificial Intelligence

On March 28, 2024, the dean of the Boston University College of Arts and Sciences would send an email to staff and faculty suggesting to use generative artificial intelligence to give students feedback on assignments.[24] Multiple news organizations would report on the dean's suggestion, sparking backlash from both students and professors.[25]

See also

References

  1. ^ Special, Michael Knight (April 6, 1979). "Faculty Begins Contract Strike at Boston University". The New York Times. p. 14. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  2. ^ Zabel, Gary (2009). "The Boston University Strike of 1979". In Brenner, Aaron (ed.). The Encyclopedia of Strikes in American History. M. E. Sharpe. p. 696. ISBN 978-1-317-45707-7.
  3. ^ "Board: Student Assistants Covered by the NLRA | NLRB". web.archive.org. 2018-03-07. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  4. ^ "Who is BUGWU? – BU Graduate Workers Union". bugwu.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  5. ^ "SEIU Local 509 and Boston University Graduate Workers announce campaign to form Graduate Workers Union". massinsider.net. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  6. ^ Gillis, Steve (2022-12-20). "Boston University Historic union win for grad workers". Workers World. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  7. ^ "Negotiations Updates | Office of the Provost". www.bu.edu. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  8. ^ "BUGWU Bargaining Tracker". Google Docs. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  9. ^ "Striking BU Graduate Workers Demand More for Parents and Families | Boston Democratic Socialists of America". Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  10. ^ Spatz, Emily. "Boston University graduate workers plan to strike starting Monday". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  11. ^ "A Brief Guide to our Bargaining Proposals". www.instagram.com. April 6, 2024. Retrieved 2024-04-10.[self-published]
  12. ^ Spatz, Emily. "Boston University graduate students vote to authorize strike". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  13. ^ "Boston University graduate students go on strike, citing lack of progress in negotiations". www.wbur.org. 2024-03-25. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  14. ^ Brown, Adora. "BU grad students pledge to continue strike until demands are met". www.boston.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  15. ^ Hassan, Abigail; Gonzalez, Nicole (2024-03-25). "BUGWU strike rally attracts support from students, faculty, local politicians". The Daily Free Press. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  16. ^ "2024 BUGWU Strike Information". SEIU Local 509. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  17. ^ Sanders, Bernie (April 5, 2024). ""No graduate student worker should be struggling to make ends meet when Boston University has a $3 billion endowment. These workers deserve a living wage and strong benefits. Boston University must bargain a fair contract immediately."". Twitter. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  18. ^ "SAG-AFTRA Joins in Solidarity with BUGWU". www.sagaftra.org. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  19. ^ "Council Supports Boston University Graduate Workers | Boston.gov". www.boston.gov. 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  20. ^ Connolly, Mike. "Standing in solidarity with @GradWorkersOfBU this afternoon! I hope the BU administration does the right thing and agrees to cost of living increases, dental benefits, and an overall contract that allows these graduate student workers to afford dignified housing in our community". Twitter. Retrieved 2024-04-10.[self-published]
  21. ^ BU Student Government (March 26, 2024). "Please read our statement in support of the ongoing BUGWU strike. To our fellow undergraduate students: stand with our Graduate Workers in solidarity — do not cross the picket line, donate to the strike fund, and demand @bostonu administration to negotiate in good faith! Their working conditions are our learning conditions". www.instagram.com. Retrieved 2024-04-10.[self-published]
  22. ^ Hassan, Abigail (2024-04-04). "Office of Provost changes payroll policy amid BUGWU strike". The Daily Free Press. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  23. ^ "Call to Action: Support the BUGWU Strike Fund!". Angry Education Workers. 2024-04-07. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  24. ^ Tran, Tony Ho (2024-03-28). "Boston University Suggests Replacing Striking Grad Students With AI". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
  25. ^ Genzer, Samantha; Mitchell, Maya (2024-04-05). "BU community reacts to CAS dean suggestion to replace striking graduate teaching assistants with AI tools – The Daily Free Press". The Daily Free Press. Retrieved 2024-04-10.
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