The agreement includes significant wage increases and safeguards
WORCESTER, Mass., October 13, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Clark University Graduate students represented by Teamsters Local 170 voted unanimously to ratify a strong first treaty.
The three-year deal includes wage increases of up to 90 percent, increased health insurance benefits, seven sick days, two personal days and a grievance procedure.
There are about 170 student workers in the collective bargaining unit. Workers voted overwhelmingly to join the Teamsters in February. As negotiations with management faltered over the summer, workers escalated their campaign to get a strong contract by rallying, holding actions, enlisting the support of other students, faculty and parents, and handing out flyers on move-in day distributed.
After 97 percent voted to authorize a strike, next October 3, the workers walked out to the sound of Teamster 18 bike horns. They went on strike around the clock for five days until they reached an agreement with the private research university.
“I couldn’t be prouder of the solidarity this group has shown during negotiations and a five-day strike, fighting for a fair contract and decent wages,” he said Shannon GeorgeChief Officer of Local 170.
“The proof of all this effort is the contract itself,” the workers’ committee wrote in one online post. “Joining the Teamsters was one of the best decisions we made. The Teamsters brought a commitment to the militant grassroots into our campaign. Nobody has to accept poverty wages and exploitation during their academic education. We are teamsters strong, and Worcester is a union town!”
“Since the initial vote to join Teamsters Local 170, these workers have never lost sight of the ultimate goal — a Teamsters contract — and they’ve worked around the clock to succeed,” he said Thomas G MariTreasurer of the Joint Council 10. “In cooperation with the leaders of Local 170 and the negotiation team, Clear…
