Highlights of the Tentative Agreement

Our Tentative Agreement includes new workplace rights for all Bargaining Unit Employees. This agreement not only improves our lives as educators, but also makes the College a more equitable, inclusive, and competitive institution. Key highlights of the Agreement include:

  • Compensation

    • Our contract not only raises the starting salary for union members, it also addresses the historic wage compression that resulted from the College freezing our starting salaries from 2008 until 2020.

    • A 14.7% increase in the base minimum salary at implementation, raising the base salary to $74,000

    • All BUEs will see their salary increased, with the largest raises going to those whose wages were compressed by the 12 year starting salary freeze implemented by the college from 2008 to 2020 based on an implementation scale designed to uplift the stagnant middle

  • Greater job security including “just cause” protections against arbitrary discipline and termination and the presumption of reappointment for BUEs after two successful reappointment reviews

  • For the first time, guaranteed appointment security—our salary and FTE cannot be reduced mid-contract, even if classes are canceled

  • Eliminating tiers from the Workload proposal, ensuring that benefits-eligibility and part-time work is based on a four-course workload for non-visiting BUEs, while giving current full-time employees the option to teach five courses for an increase in base salary

  • First-ever Dependent Care benefit for employees at Wellesley College

  • Guaranteed rent caps and protections for College-provided Housing

  • New titles that better reflect our role as teaching-focused faculty

  • Stronger protections against discrimination, harassment, and abusive conduct, including supportive measures, pregnancy accommodations, gender neutral facilities, and extended timelines for reporting harassment

  • A strong grievance procedure that allows us for the first time to enforce our rights under the contract with access to a neutral third-party arbitrator

  • Additional Holidays for those working Wintersession.

  • Historic Health and Safety protections, including timelines for resolving issues and protections from mold and other workplace hazards

  • Dining benefit, which provides additional dining passes to students for the purpose of community building

A complete tentative agreement will be posted after the Parties sign it on Tuesday, September 2, 2025