2025-2028 Bargaining Blog: Session 11

FSU-GAU just had a meeting with FSU-BOT on Tuesday, September 16th. During our session, we continued with the back and forth of negotiation, but we also moved an article into tentative agreement, and had an unusual turn of events as the session wrapped up. 

We came to the table with counter proposals on stipends (article 22), amendment and duration (article 20), and non-discrimination (article 8). After proposing our counters, we offered that if FSU-BOT was willing to sign off on our proposed changes for stipends and non-discrimination, we would default to status quo on healthcare. They did not accept our offer and instead countered our stipends and non-discrimination articles with expected information. 

They came back with a proposed 1.75% increase to the minimum stipend, but added language for a proposed bonus. While the proposed bonus is a step in the right direction, the numbers still do not compensate GAs in a way that is acceptable or reasonable. For non-discrimination, they mostly wanted to remove our proposed language, but I feel that we are inching closer and closer to at least something resembling a middle ground. 

While we were in caucus to discuss their proposals, a member of the FSU-BOT team came in, and asked us to come back to the table to look at a Memorandum of Agreement that would allow them to deploy the current health insurance subsidy while we are still negotiating. The FSU-GAU bargaining team is reviewing this document as we speak, and will be able to discuss more after our next session. This MOA was a bit of a surprise, but we are taking it in stride, and still have every intention of pushing for proper compensation of GAs in any way that we can. 

If you would like to come fight for your rights as a GA in person, or would like to be in the session but can only attend virtually, you have the opportunity to join us next Tuesday, the 23rd, from 10am-12pm at the training center or on zoom. If you’re interested in joining the bargaining committee, please reach out to us at bargaining@fsugau.org. Stay up to date with all things GAU on our website, fsugau.org or our Instagram, @fsugau. We hope to see you in our next session!

With Love & In Solidarity, 

Xanthippe Pack-Brown

FSU-GAU Executive Vice President and Chief Negotiator