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UF Graduate Assistants To Get More Money

The University of Florida and Graduate Assistants United, the bargaining unit for about 4,200 graduate assistants, have reached agreement on a new contract that includes pay increases starting October first.

The minimum stipends for graduate students on appointment will increase 10 percent for 9-month and 12-month graduate assistants on that date. This increase will affect about 500 graduate students who currently earn less than the new minimum. Additionally, an across-the-board increase of 4.4 percent will be added to graduate assistants’ new and existing base salaries.

“This year’s improved budget allows us to provide additional support to graduate teaching assistants,” UF President Bernie Machen said. “Their contribution to our education programs is important and very much appreciated.”

The agreement with GAU is subject to ratification by the GAU membership and the UF Board of Trustees, which meets in September.

Here are the current and new minimum annual stipends:

9-month appointments
FTE Current New
1.0 $20,000 $22,000
.50 $10,000 $11,000
.33 $6,600 $7,260
.25 $5,000 $5,500

12-month appointments
FTE Current New
1.0 $26,769.20 $29,446
.50 $13,384.60 $14,723
.33 $8,833.81 $9,717
.25 $6,692.30 $7,362

Other compensation announcements affecting UF employees came earlier this summer. Machen announced that eligible staff will receive at least 3.5 percent salary increases and eligible faculty would see an increase in their annual base pay of $1,400 for those earning less than $40,000 and $1,000 for those earning more than $40,000, adjusted for full- and part-time status. In addition, funds will be available for faculty merit raises on October first for faculty not in the bargaining unit.

Salary increases for faculty in the bargaining unit --- beyond the across-the board raises --- are subject to negotiation.

Forrest is a radio news manager for WUFT News. Reach him by emailing news@wuft.org or calling 352-392-6397.