University of California officials today (Oct. 12) announced that UC employees represented by the United Auto Workers union voted to approve a new contract that includes market-competitive wages and new “family-friendly” provisions for the more than 12,000 teaching assistants and certain other academic student employees employed by the University.

The contract, which is effective Oct.1, 2007 – Sept. 30, 2009, includes the following:

-- 10% in wage increases over two years, assuming sufficient funding;

-- Significantly improved summer compensation for teaching assistants;

-- Waivers for rising mandatory fees paid by graduate students;

-- 100% coverage of health insurance premiums that keeps pace with rising health costs;

-- New University-paid “family-friendly” leave provisions for teaching
assistants, including a child care cost reimbursement program; and

-- Improved mechanisms for teaching assistants to discuss workload issues.
The full contract will be available in the coming weeks here.

UC’s academic student employees -- primarily graduate students -- provide vital services as teaching assistants and other instructional assistants such as readers and tutors in support of faculty and lecturers.