On Monday and Tuesday, November 14th & 15th, GAU will be holding a ratification vote to formally approve our recent agreement on graduate student stipends and paid family and medical leave.

What did we win?

Article 10
After over 10 months of bargaining and multiple actions, we secured the most expensive package ever negotiated by UF-GAU and our first increase to the minimum stipend in over 5 years.

While we recognize that this increase is not enough to cover for five years of inflation and significant increases to the average cost of living in Gainesville, we are proud of how hard the Bargaining and Organizing Committees worked to secure a wage increase for all GAs.

We will be opening Article 10 (Stipend) Bargaining again this Fall and our first offer will be a minimum stipend that covers ​the cost of living in Gainesville, FL - a city that has now reached the top 25% most expensive cities in the United States.

Article 8
This Fall, we opened negotiations with UF concerning paid leave for GAs. Previously GAs were only guaranteed 5 days of paid leave and six weeks of unpaid leave per semester. After just three bargaining session, we tentatively agreed to eight weeks of paid leave for graduate assistants for family or medical leave. This is a huge win that has been a priority for UF-GAU for years!

What Happens Next?

GAU will hold a ratification vote, and if a simple majority of those voting select "Yes" on each article, the changes in the contract will be implemented. 

When is Ratification?

The ratification will be held on Monday, November 14th from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM in Turlington Plaza (concurrent with our Greedy Gator Ate My Fees event) and on Tuesday, November 15th from 10 AM to 1 PM in the Reitz Union Breezeway. 

Who Can Vote?

ALL GRADUATE EMPLOYEES, regardless of GAU membership, are eligible to vote and encouraged to do so.

When will the votes be counted?

Votes will be counted over Zoom on Thursday, November 17th. The time is TBD.

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Voting Results

Monday, November 14th, 2022: TBD
Tuesday, November 15th, 2022: TBD
Final Vote: TBD

Status: TBD