UI Grad students rally to demand better compensation

The University of Iowa's graduate student union, the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students, congregated at the UI Pentacrest Monday evening in effort to urge state officials to increase compensation for graduate students.

The rally was held just before union officials were to meet with representatives from the State Board of Regents to discuss negotiations for fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The meeting was held at the University Capitol Centre, but negotiations are closed to the public.

Union leaders are requesting a 4 percent raise in 2011-12 and 2012-13 for graduate teaching and research assistants, who have not had pay raises in the past two years. The organization is also requesting 100 percent tuition scholarships and that the UI increase its contribution to the health insurance premium for dependents of graduate teaching and research assistants.

The current contract proposal includes a small tuition scholarship increase and cuts to graduate employee health benefits. Union leaders said the plan does not offer enough improvement in compensation and it increases healthcare costs for the University's more than 2,600 graduate employees. The organization also voiced concern about several extra fees they are required to pay including a fee for the new Campus Recreation and Wellness Center.

Bargaining for fiscal years 2012 and 2013 must be completed by March 15.