Chicago Sun-Times - All | Striking UIC grad workers rally for higher pay as some say they struggle to afford groceries and rent by Mary Norkol AI generated summary, Read the full article for complete information. Graduate student workers at the University of Illinois Chicago launched a strike after a year of stalled contract talks, demanding higher wages, affordable health‑care, and stronger protections for international scholars. Union members, including Alex Hagan who struggles to pay rent and car insurance on a $24,000 salary, argue that UIC’s pay is far below that of nearby private institutions such as Northwestern and the University of Chicago. The Graduate Employees Organization seeks a $38,000 nine‑month salary, better insurance premiums, guarantees that artificial‑intelligence tools won’t replace union labor, and safeguards against federal immigration enforcement on campus. UIC has offered a modest 2 % raise, calling its proposal fiscally responsible, while the union stresses that the current compensation is insufficient to meet basic living costs and urges parity with regional peers. Read more: https://chicago.suntimes.com/education/2026/04/28/striking-uic-grad-workers-rally-for-higher-pay-as-some-say-they-struggle-to-afford-groceries-and-rent #UIC #GraduateEmployees #Northwestern #UniversityofChicago #CampusCare