2025-2028 Bargaining Blog: Session 9

Hi everyone! FSU-GAU had a bargaining session with the FSU-BOT team on August 22nd, and we are really getting into the nitty gritty of things, so let’s go ahead and jump right in. 

Our plan for this session was to move the last of our unopened articles into status quo. Those articles were the grievance procedure (Article 11) and miscellaneous provisions (Article 17). The FSU-BOT team agreed, and we moved those two into status quo and signed off on them. We also signed off on physical copies of other employee rights (Article 18). That would be the last thing we agreed upon that day. 

We also brought our counter on health insurance (Article 16) to the table, where we proposed 100% health care coverage for GAs on a 0.5 FTE, for both domestic and international students. We knew this was ambitious, but we do like to shoot for the moon and ideally land amongst the stars. The FSU-BOT team presented their counter on non-discrimination, sexual misconduct, and retaliation (Article 8). Their response was extensive and not favorable, as they deemed all of our proposed language unnecessary, and proposed status quo. This response was not surprising, considering the current political climate and push to redefine what qualifies as a protected group. The response also did not come as a surprise given the university’s recent attempt to remove most protected groups, except for veterans and those with disabilities, from the university wide non-discrimination policy. Their counter proposal would provide us with as little protection and autonomy as possible. We have taken the article back, and will formulate our counter, where we will attempt to reach some middle ground. 

We discussed stipends (Article 22). If we thought that the FSU-BOT team’s response to article 8 was not favorable, then this response was just downright disappointing. Our initial proposal sought to bring the minimum stipend up to a livable wage for the Tallahassee area. BOT countered this by offering a measly 1% increase to the minimum stipend and 1% raises for all GAs. This is why GAs should become members of the union. It is clear that the Board of Trustees does not have any interest in paying GAs a living wage. They looked at our numbers, which were the minimum of what is considered a living wage, and offered us a measly 1% raise instead. Even worse, when asked about why, what, or how about their choice to propose a 1% raise, the FSU-BOT team was cagey and vague, chalking their decisions up to “the bargaining/negotiation process.” While it is important that BOT is willing to negotiate stipends at all, a proposed 1% increase is a spit in the face of every  struggling GA. This is a harsh reminder that the university does not have our best interests in mind. We will continue to negotiate, and we will not go back, only maintain our standing or move forward, I can assure you that. But, I believe it is imperative that you all know the reality of our negotiations with FSU-BOT. 

Our bargaining committee meetings are moving to Fridays from 3-4pm on zoom. Any member is welcome to join, and we would love to have you! If you are interested, make sure to join our discord or email bargaining@fsugau.org to get connected. Make sure to follow us on Instagram, fsugau.org, and we will be back shortly with an update on another session. Remember, everything we have now is not because of FSU, but is because GAU has fought long and hard for what we have today, and we have every plan to continue to do so. 

With Love & In Solidarity, 

Xanthippe Pack-Brown

FSU-GAU Bargaining Chair and Chief Negotiator