BU Graduate Workers Union

 It’s up to us to hold BU responsible for implementing the contract faithfully. When we believe an article of our contract has been violated, one option is to file a grievance. Filing a grievance initiates a formal process to determine if a contract violation has occurred and what remedies are available.

Filing a grievance

  • Contact a steward to assist with the process.
  • If a grievance impacts only you, it must be filed within 10 business days of the violation of the contract.
  • If a grievance impacts multiple workers, it must be filed within 20 business days of the violation of the contract.
  • If a grievance reaches arbitration, the entire grievance process can take months.
  • Filing a grievance is only one approach of many to address problems in the work place. Additional strategies include:
    • Writing a letter to your department chair explaining the issue and collecting signatures.
    • Holding a town hall to discuss collective solutions with your coworkers.

Ongoing grievances

Grievances are tracked here. Current grievances that are going to arbitration are:

  • Department control over summer work (3/11/26): claimed violation of article 18.1b
  • Effects bargaining over unilateral changes (5/27/26): claimed violation of article 10
  • Summer workload grievance (3/31/26): claimed violation of
  • BME 5 year funding guarantee (7/14/26): claimed violation of articles 12, 16, and 18
  • BME effects bargaining grievance (10/7/26): claimed violation of article 10

If you think an ongoing grievance may be relevant to you, please reach out to a steward.