This past Tuesday July 29, 2025, Dean Mary Ellen Lane sent an email to all GSBS students communicating that UMass Chan must maintain our current wages and benefits until we have reached a Collective Bargaining Agreement with UMass Chan. Even if their interpretation of the “status quo” were accurate, nothing prevents UMass Chan from proposing and reaching agreements with the union on mutually agreeable changes to pay and benefits while bargaining is ongoing. Many other institutions have chosen to offer cost-of-living increases during bargaining, which in our case we could consider in good faith. At this time, UMass Chan has not contacted CORE-UAW about an increase in our stipend.
In the meantime, CORE-UAW wants to make sure your voice is heard throughout the bargaining process. As we develop more-specific proposals that will address our bargaining goals, we invite all interested Student Workers to join working groups. If you are interested in the topic of stipend increases and/or healthcare, you can join our working groups dedicated to cost of living and health insurance. Please fill out this form if you would like to participate in these or any of our other working groups.
CORE-UAW is committed to bargaining to ensure better working conditions for all Student Workers.
In love and solidarity,
The CORE-UAW organizing team