[Faculty] December ASE/GSR Bargaining

[UCR Provost]

*On behalf of the UC System Provost and Executive Vice President Katherine
S. Newman I am transmitting the attached letter and email below.*




Dear Colleagues,



Please find attached my monthly bargaining letter, which addresses the
ongoing negotiations between the University and the United Auto Workers
(UAW) for the unified Academic Student Employees (ASE – TAs, AIs, Fellows,
Readers, and Tutors) and Graduate Student Researchers (GSR) bargaining
units.

For quick reference, the key highlights below summarize the major outcomes
from last week’s bargaining sessions and outline what to expect as
negotiations continue into the new year:



   - *Four-day bargaining session yielded significant progress!  The
   parties:*
      - achieved eight (8) tentative agreements on the following topics:
      ASE Classification; ASE Recognition; Discipline and Dismissal; Employment
      Files; Grievance and Arbitration; Non-discrimination; Respectful Work
      Environment; and Union Security.
      - tentatively agreed to two side letters/appendices on Legacy ASE
      titles and the Panel of Arbitrators.
      - continued to pass proposals on key articles such as GSR Paid Time
      Off, GSR Time and Effort, ASE Workload, and Leaves of Absence.


   - *Economic proposals are the priority in the new year*:
      - The UAW’s initial wage proposal included a unified salary scale for
      ASEs/GSRs by 2028, with average annual range adjustments of ~10% for GSRs
      and 6% for ASEs (excluding experience-level increases).
      - The University has not accepted the UAW’s initial wage proposal and
      is preparing a counterproposal informed by its financial position, budget
      constraints and federal funding outlook.
      - Consultations, including those with Academic Senate leadership,
      faculty bargaining team members, and the faculty advisory committee, are
      and will continue to take place ahead of the University’s counterproposal
      on wages.

      - Other economic-related proposals pending resolution include Health
      Benefits, Tuition and Fee Remissions, Parking, Childcare,
Immigration, and
      Appointments.


   - *The University and UAW agreed to a one-month contract extension
   through January 31, 2026*, *with five bargaining sessions scheduled for
   January.*


   - *Guidance for Faculty Going Forward*:
      - Begin preparing for academic and instructional continuity planning
      in case negotiations stall after January.

The University remains fully engaged in the bargaining process and is doing
everything possible to reach an agreement and avoid delays.

Best wishes,

Katherine S. Newman
UC System Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

UC Berkeley Chancellor’s Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Public
Policy



Office address:

Katherine Newman

C/o Office of the President

University of California

1111 Franklin Street, 12th Floor

Oakland, California 94706



Email: *Katherine.Newman at ucop.edu <Katherine.Newman at ucop.edu>*



Chief of Staff

Stephanie Beechem

*Stephanie.Beechem at ucop.edu <Stephanie.Beechem at ucop.edu>*
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