GEOC, Wayne State reach tentative agreement on new contract

Proposed contract will be put to a membership vote

After several months of negotiations, the GEOC Bargaining Team and Wayne State University have tentatively agreed to a new contract for Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Student Assistants for the next three academic years. 

It is now up to GEOC members if the Union will accept the new contract or reject it. 

GEOC members were notified via email on Thursday, July 9th, 2025 of an upcoming contract ratification vote, which will take place electronically from Wednesday, July 16th– Saturday, July 19th, 2025. The vote will open at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday and close at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday. 

View the Contract

Where can I get more information about the contract? 

• View a list of proposed changes to the contract here. 

• View a short summary of the contract highlights here. 

• View information on yes/no vote campaigning here. 

General Membership Meeting 

Have questions about the proposed contract? Join members of the GEOC Bargaining Team for a virtual General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, July 16th from 12:00–1:00 p.m. The agenda includes: 

• Overview of the proposed contract 

• Q&A: Contract-specific questions 

• Explainer: What happens if we ratify vs reject? 

Join on Zoom 

Please keep an eye on your email for a link to vote electronically and feel free to reach out to geocwsu@gmail.com with any questions. 

Who can vote on contract ratification?

Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Student Assistants who were dues-paying members in the Winter 2025 or Spring/Summer 2025 semesters, who signed their union card prior to the announcement of this ratification vote. Members must have paid at least one cycle of dues. 

Who cannot vote?

Graduate Teaching Assistants and Graduate Student Assistants who have not signed a union card or paid dues cannot vote. Graduate Research Assistants and solidarity dues payers cannot vote as they are not covered by this contract.

How will voting be administered?

A link to vote will be sent to your email.

What is GEOC's position on the contract?

GEOC and the Steering Committee have no position on the contract. We encourage all members to read the proposed contract and vote based on their evaluation of its merits.

What is the Bargaining Team's position on the contract?

The GEOC Bargaining Team is obligated to support the proposed contract and encourages members to vote yes. They may send out communications to that effect.

Where can I find more information on the contract?

• View the full proposed contract here. 

• View only proposed changes to the contract here. 

• View a short summary of the contract highlights here. 

• View information on yes/no vote campaigning here.

About GEOC

The Graduate Employees Organizing Committee has been fighting for the rights of graduate employees at Wayne State University since 1998. Through collective bargaining, dispute resolution, and advocacy, we work to iteratively improve the working conditions for the 400+ emerging scholars we represent. A member-led organization, GEOC organizes collective power to prevent exploitation and improve the quality of life for working people.