University of Michigan, Graduate Workers Agree To New Contract

ANN ARBOR, MI — The University of Michigan and its graduate workers reached a new contract Friday just as classes started Monday.

The new three-year contract gives graduate workers across all three campuses raises, increases benefits for transgender surgery and care, parental care and sexual harassment protections.

Graduate workers at the main campus in Ann Arbor will receive an 8 percent salary increase, followed by a 6 percent increase each of the next two years, totaling a 20 percent increase over the next three years.

Graduate workers at the Dearborn campus will receive a 3.5 percent salary increase each year over the three years, totaling a 10.5 increase. The Flint campus would have its minimum stipend aligned to the Dearborn pay. Graduate students on all three campuses would also receive a $1,000 bonus.

The university announced the terms as its "last, best and final offer" on Aug. 20. The union accepted the terms, ending the strike, which started on March 29.

"We fought tooth-and-nail over 10 months of bargaining & 5 months of strike action, forcing U-M to grant the largest salary increase in GEO history," the union wrote early Friday on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. "U-M refused to ensure pay parity across all 3 campuses. This battle is over, but the fight goes on!"