The Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU) launched a two-item ballot measure Wednesday for its members to vote for Stanford. recommended contract and strike authority. Voting will remain open until next Wednesday.

According to SGWU’s press release, if the strike approval is accepted and the University “does not sufficiently improve its offer,” the union will begin a strike on November 12.

“A majority of graduate workers are expected to vote to reject Stanford’s inadequate contract offer and authorize the strike,” the union wrote.

The SGWU bargaining committee unanimously asks its members to vote against the proposed contract and vote for permission to strike. If a majority of members vote to authorize a strike, the bargaining committee may choose to call a strike at its discretion, depending on how negotiations with the University progress.

The strike authorization vote came after the University failed to meet an Oct. 24 deadline set by the bargaining committee to propose a “fair contract” that would include fair wages, non-discrimination protections and improved benefits. There is a university stated When negotiating with SGWU, there is no deadline for negotiations.

About a year after SWGU started In negotiations with the university, the bargaining committee signed Various interim agreements compatible with demands. During bargaining sessions on Monday and Tuesday, the SGWU also made progress on issues such as health care, social benefits and anti-discrimination protections.

since October 2 rallyMore than 2,300 members signed a form pledging to strike if the strike authorization vote passed and the bargaining committee called on members to strike. SGWU stated that these commitments put positive pressure on the University to accept its demands.

There is a university continuously He argued that, unlike the union’s economic compensation comparisons, its proposals to the union were more competitive than peer institutions. supplied To the University to explain negotiating positions.

“I hope we can negotiate a successful outcome without business interruption,” university president Jon Levin ’94 said in an interview with The Daily. “That’s the best outcome…we kind of get over the existing differences and come to an agreement.”

In a statement to The Daily, the University wrote that it “engaged constructively in the process and remains committed to negotiating with UE-SGWU until an agreement is reached.”

The Daily has reached out to SGWU for comment.

The university’s proposed contract includes a two percent pay increase and a host of benefits in areas such as healthcare and professional development. However, SGWU is unhappy with the increase, stating that salaries will not keep up with the 4.5% increase in rents set by Stanford this year.

SGWU stated that Stanford could avert the planned strike if the University offered a fair contract by November 12. However, according to SGWU, the offer made by the University on Monday still does not meet its demands.

“If Stanford continues to refuse to pay its graduate workers a living wage, thousands of workers will be ready to strike in less than two weeks,” SGWU wrote in the press release.

George Porteous contributed reporting.