With More Than 80% of Tentative Agreements Reached, USC Proposes Stipend Increases of Nearly 15% Over Four Years

11/21/23

Two more productive bargaining sessions this month have resulted in five additional tentative agreements between USC Graduate School and the union representing approximately 10% of our graduate students.

Following Nov. 13 and Nov. 20 negotiation sessions, 26 tentative agreements are now in place, representing more than 80% of the contract. This progress demonstrates USC’s commitment to good faith bargaining with the UAW and the school’s desire to provide our graduate student workers industry-leading benefits and the most competitive stipend package among our peers.

The parties have reached four tentative agreements over the last two bargaining sessions.

USC’s latest economic package adds additional 5 days of paid leave for bereavement and further increases minimum stipends—to nearly 15% (14.85%) over the course of the contract.

That includes:

• 5% increase already provided in current academic year
• 6% increase to the minimum stipend for AY 2024-25, to $37,000
• 25% increase to the minimum stipend for AY 2025-26, to $38,203
• 3% increase to the minimum stipend for AY 2026-27, to $39,349

Notably, more than 75% of our graduate student workers make more than the minimum stipend.

The union’s economic proposal—stipend increases of more than 35% over four years— is simply not economically practical. USC Graduate School is charged with ensuring the success of all students, not only the 2,700 represented by the union. While providing competitive benefit and stipend packages for our graduate student workers, we must also invest in other areas of the graduate school, ensure we are achieving our academic and research goals, and support the broader university community.

We remain grateful to our students and faculty for their dedication to the teaching and learning mission of the university. We believe a strike only delays our ability to reach a mutually beneficial agreement that creates a positive professional environment for our graduate students.