UMass Amherst, Graduate Student Organization Reach Tentative Agreement on Contract

April 24, 2008

Contact:

Ed Blaguszewski Aaron Winslow 413/545-0444; 413/545-0705

AMHERST, Mass. – The University of Massachusetts Amherst and the Graduate Employee Organization (GEO) have reached a tentative agreement on a 14-month contract.

The announcement was made by UMass Amherst spokesman Ed Blaguszewski.

The contract has been ratified by GEO membership and now must be approved by the UMass Board of Trustees.

Aaron Winslow, GEO vice president, said, “We’re happy to have negotiating wrapped up after 15 months of bargaining. The GEO leadership and bargaining committee were very pleased to bring this contract to our members for ratification.”

The contract covers the period from July 1, 2007 to Aug. 30, 2008. It includes a stipend increase of 2.5 percent that takes effect as of April 13, 2008 and covers fiscal year 2008. In addition, monies have been set aside to raise the lowest school and college minimum stipends for graduate employees.

There is also a $400 signing bonus for eligible graduate student employees.

“We are very pleased to have reached an agreement with our graduate student employees who play an important role in the success of our academic community,” said Blaguszewski.

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