Academic Student Employees (ASEs) & Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs)
The United Auto Workers (UAW) bargaining units have ratified their contracts, which are now in effect. These agreements cover the unified Academic Student Employees (ASE – Teaching Assistants (TA), Associate Instructors (AI), Readers, Tutors) and Graduate Student Researchers (GSR). The ASE/GSR contract expires on December 31, 2029.
Wages
One of the concepts achieved in bargaining was to move to a unified salary scale for TAs, AIs, and GSRs. To address this goal, the parties deviated from the traditional annual general range adjustment structure and instead restructured the salary scales with a plan of a unified scale by 2029
The bottom of the GSR salary scale will increase by 6% annually, but the average annual increase (without experience level movement or movement to a unified scale in 2029) is as follows:
· 4.0% at salary point 2
· 3.9% at salary point 3
· 3.8% at salary point 4
· 3.6% at salary point 5
· 3.0% at salary point 6
In addition, the differentials between salary points have been reduced. Under the 2022-26 GSR contract, the salary point differential was 7.75%. The new contract restructures the scales to produce a differential that ranges from 1.88% up to 7.64%.
Childcare
- Graduate Student Researchers (GSRs) and Academic Student Employees (ASEs) are eligible to receive up to $1,900 per fiscal quarter (up from $1,400) for qualifying childcare expenses incurred
- Eligible Summer Session ASEs may receive up to $1,900 total (up from $1,375) for childcare expenses incurred during their summer session appointment
Health Benefits
Effective immediately:
The eligibility threshold for remission/reimbursement of child dependent health premiums has been revised, resulting in a higher number of employees who will qualify for remission/reimbursement of child dependent health premiums
Note current reimbursement practice will remain in effect pending any required changes determined by Systemwide guidance and training.
Graduate Student Researcher Personal Time Off (PTO)
Beginning Fall Term 2026:
- GSRs who have unused PTO shall rollover their PTO bank into a reappointment under the following circumstances:
- The GSR is reappointed under the same PI/supervisor
- The GSR does not have a break in service as a GSR longer than thirty (30) days
- If there is a break in service of 30 days or less, the GSR must submit a written request to rollover their previously unused PTO within thirty (30) days from the start of their new appointment
- The total PTO days available for a GSR may never exceed eighteen (18) days
Immigration Leave
Effective immediately:
- Employees may take up to three (3) weeks of unpaid leave (used in one-week increments/blocks) to travel outside the United States of America to apply for a F-1 or J-1 visa or to seek other forms of immigration relief, with thirty (30) days’ notice to their supervisor and the need for travel for a qualifying reason is verified by the International Students and Scholars Office (or equivalent)
- Employees may use available short-term leave, personal time off (GSRs only), or up to one week of long-term leave to receive pay during an Immigration Leave
- Immigration Leave is limited to three (3) weeks whether paid or unpaid in any rolling twelve (12) month period
- When feasible, employees are expected to schedule immigration-related appointments between academic terms or obtain supervisor pre-approval
Postdoctoral Scholars
Compensation:
- April 2023 new University of California (UC) salary scale resulting in average salary increases of 8 percent.
- Annual pay increases each October, approximately 7.5 percent in the first year and 3.5 percent in each of the remaining years;
- Annual experience-based increase of 3.7 percent for eligible Postdoctoral Scholars.
Childcare:
- Up to $2500 annual reimbursement for childcare expenses
- Flexibility to use funds for chlidcare expenses related to professional travel;
- Annual $100 increases in 2024, 2025 and 2026;
- Access to pre-tax Dependent Care (DepCare) for childcare expenses.
Appointments:
- Two-year initial appointments with one-year reappointments thereafter.
Paid Family Leave:
- A new special Postdoc Paid Leave program of 8 weeks of 100% paid family leave for all Postdocs.