2026 Bargaining Has Ended: Session 7

I am pleased to report that on Friday, September 11, during our seventh session of bargaining, your union was able to reach an agreement with the FSU Board of Trustees and conclude negotiations! I am even more pleased to announce that due to your union's persistence, we were able to win a raise to the minimum stipend to $20,000 ($10,000 for 0.25 FTE) and a $1,000 bonus for all GAs at 0.5 FTE ($500 for 0.25 FTE)! The bonus alone is nearly twice what the Board was willing to offer us in the last session, and with the approximately 5% raise to the minimum stipend, your union has won FSU GAs collectively around $2,700,000. This is a huge win for all FSU GAs!

At the beginning of Session 7, we proposed a bonus of $1,750 for GAs at 0.5 FTE ($875 for 0.25 FTE), attempting to close the gap between our offers and the Board's without compromising our commitment to securing the best deal for all GAs. The Board countered this offer with raising the minimum stipend to $20,000 ($10,000 for 0.25 FTE) and a bonus of $800 for GAs at 0.5 FTE ($400 for GAs at 0.25 FTE). Your union decided to press the Board when they said that this was their best offer with what became our final offer: raising the minimum stipend to $20,000 ($10,000 for 0.25 FTE) and a $1,000 bonus for all GAs at 0.5 FTE ($500 for 0.25 FTE). In the end, it was your union's undying dedication to fighting for the interests of GAs that allowed us to achieve this victory.

It is with the utmost gratitude that I thank everyone who was involved in the bargaining process. From planning, researching, and organizing, to attending bargaining sessions, your contributions have truly paid off in the deal we were able to win. Even when reaching a fair agreement with the Board seemed hopeless, your continual involvement was able to turn the tide in our favor. Your union is never stronger than when our members come together in action, and our new bargaining agreement is a testimony to the power of our solidarity. It has been an honor and a privilege serving as your Bargaining Co-Chair, and it is with the greatest pleasure that I get to sign off the 2026 Bargaining Season. I'm looking forward to continuing to celebrate our win with all of you!

Elijah Noonan

PhD Student

Department of English

Bargaining Co-Chair