For Immediate Release: UIC graduate workers ratify new contract

UIC graduate workers ratify new contract

CHICAGO – Graduate workers at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) ratified their new contract today, with 97% of voting members accepting the three-year agreement. The workers, members of the UIC Graduate Employees Organization (UIC GEO, IFT Local 6297), spent six days on strike demanding a fair contract with a living wage and stronger workplace protections. Details of the agreement are available on the union’s website.

Upon ratification, UIC GEO Co-President Jared O’Connor released the following statement:

“When we fight, we win. I’m proud of our members who stood up for better workplace protections and fair pay. It wasn’t easy, but our persistence paid off, and we have a contract that our members approve of. We went on strike for six days to secure a contract that will bring stability to our work. In this agreement, we have expanded supports for victims of harassment, decreased fees, and secured a fair wage for UIC graduate workers. We are grateful for the wide support we received from fellow university workers and our labor family, and for our members willing to stand together for our cause.”

The UIC Graduate Employees Organization, Local 6297 of the Illinois Federation of Teachers-American Federation of Teachers, is the member-run union that represents more than 1,500 Teaching Assistants and Graduate Assistants at the University of Illinois at Chicago.

The Illinois Federation of Teachers (IFT) represents 103,000 teachers and paraprofessionals in PreK-12 school districts throughout Illinois, faculty and staff at Illinois’ community colleges and universities, public employees under every statewide elected constitutional officer, and retirees.