Graduate students across the country are working to educate university leaders. They say they work hard and should be compensated appropriately, and while similar efforts are underway at a number of institutions, one in upstate New York has worked out a new labor agreement that rewards graduate assistants.

“SU works because we do" was one of the many chants that rang through Syracuse University on Thursday as SU employees rallied. This came a day after more than 1,000 Syracuse University graduate workers ratified their first collective bargaining agreement with the institution.

"Most people on campus were making below, like, near-poverty wages, or roughly around $20,000 a year," said Roger Rosena, a teaching assistant at  Syracuse University.

It's an issue that’s been Rosena’s mind for the five years he’s worked at SU. He was part of the bargaining committee in negotiations, and knows the struggles of not making a living wage.

“So more or less, I have to cut back on things that I would like to do," he said. "Like, I don't go out as often as I want to. I have to, more or less, manage my budgets and, more or less, count pennies because every penny counts.”

The agreement is in effect until May 2028. It increases the median stipend for graduate assistants by nearly 24% for the next academic year, and 31% over the life of the contract.

It also increases time off, enhances health care coverage and provides other benefits.

“So, that's one less thing that many people here have to think about," Rosena said. "You know, where is the next meal coming from, or how am I going to, more or less, stretch out $21,000 to cover 12 months?”

After the agreement, Syracuse University’s vice chancellor released a statement: 

"Following a thoughtful, constructive and collaborative process, the University is grateful to have reached an agreement for an inaugural contract with Syracuse Graduate Employees United (SGEU). Over the last seven months, the University and the Union's bargaining committees have worked in good faith to reach a contract that provides increased compensation, enhanced health care coverage and expanded academic support and protection for graduate assistants."

This agreement continues a recent trend of grad students fighting for higher pay across the country. Over the last year, unions have been formed at Dartmouth College and Duke University, while grad workers at Boston and Temple University are currently on strike.

The University of Rochester is also seeing graduate students look work to unionize.

“For the most part, wherever there is a union, you tend to have happier workers. You tend to have, you know, more respect in the workplace and things like that," Rosena said. "I'm not going to exchange respect and happiness for anything."