This week, Caltech presented a comprehensive proposal addressing all remaining provisions in bargaining sessions with the Caltech Graduate Researchers and Postdocs United (CGPU-UAW). Included in the Institute's proposal are provisions to enhance healthcare benefits, extend additional support to international students, and supplement the Institute's existing benefits for unit members with families—all while continuing to ensure that graduate students and postdoctoral scholars remain among the most highly compensated in higher education. This comprehensive proposal is in addition to the 31 provisions already tentatively agreed to by Caltech and CGPU-UAW.
During the session, members of Caltech's bargaining team presented information on Caltech's already market-leading baseline stipends and salaries, as compared to the cost of living; provided information on how principal investigators fund research groups; and addressed questions about the roles tuition and the endowment play at the Institute. These presentations provided context for the Institute's comprehensive proposal as a reasonable and sustainable path forward.
Bargaining continues to be productive. The union responded to the Institute's comprehensive proposal, and the Institute plans to make a revised comprehensive offer at the next scheduled bargaining session, which is scheduled for January 13–17, 2025.
For its part, the CGPU-UAW assured the Institute that it is equally committed to a successful collective bargaining process. The union affirmed at the bargaining table that it would not call a strike before the end of the bargaining sessions that have been scheduled through January 31, 2025. The union further clarified that a strike would not be called prior to the parties reaching a bargaining impasse in the negotiations, which has not occurred.
Details on past bargaining sessions and tentative agreements reached to date are provided in previous updates.