ANN ARBOR, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – After a nearly five-month-long strike, the University of Michigan’s Graduate Employees Organization and university leaders have reached a tentative contract agreement.
Graduate student instructors voted to initiate the ratification process with the university after lengthy discussions over its “best” offer.

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The formal ratification vote started on Tuesday and will conclude on Friday, with results soon to follow. According to the GEO’s lead negotiator, Evelyn Smith, the latest offer from the university is seen as containing significant achievements.

Since March, the union has been on strike, its most extended work stoppage since its establishment in 1974, representing approximately 2,300 graduate student instructors and staff assistants. Negotiations have been ongoing since November, following the expiration of the organization’s prior contract in May.

As classes are set to begin on Monday, nearly 90% of undergraduate students are registered for courses that are either fully or partly instructed by graduate student instructors or staff assistants, based on the university’s information.