NYU and faculty union reach tentative agreement, ending 2-day strike

Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News on Mar 25, 2026

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NEW YORK — New York University and unionized faculty reached a tentative agreement on Wednesday, ending a two-day strike declared as students returned from spring break.

The union, the Contract Faculty United-UAW, represents nearly 1,000 full-time NYU professors who are not on track for tenure, yet teach roughly a quarter of the private university’s classes. The union had been pushing for better compensation, stronger job security and more manageable workloads.

“We are pleased to share that a tentative agreement has been reached between the University and its unionized contract faculty represented by CFU-UAW,” NYU President Linda Mills and Provost Georgina Dopico wrote in an email to students.

“Strikes are difficult moments for close-knit communities like ours. But even in moments of tension, we are one NYU community. That was true yesterday, it’s true today, and it will be true tomorrow.”

The agreement includes 3.5% annual raises and a $91,000 base salary for assistant professors, growing to a $110,100 floor for full-rank professors, sources said. Faculty who have been at NYU for a long time are set to receive one-time increases above the minimums.

The agreement also establishes a $1 million family care benefit fund and professional development fund of at least $2,500 per year for each faculty member.

The deal comes after NYU and the union had been at the negotiating table since November 2024, including round-the-clock sessions last weekend and involvement from the Mayor’s Office. In February, members voted 90% in favor of authorizing a strike, with 75% of the unit participating.

“The University has worked in good faith to recognize the important contributions these faculty members make to our community, and to ensure a sustainable and fair agreement,” Wiley Norvell, chief communications officer at NYU, said in a statement.

“This deal provides meaningful raises and comprehensive benefits that will improve the lives of every member.”

The tentative agreement will go to the union’s members for a ratification vote before it can be finalized.

Striking faculty were expected to return to work Wednesday morning, ending two school days of disarray on the Greenwich Village campus as substitute instructors and administrators temporarily taught courses, and some students joined their professors on the picket line.

“We have a reached a tentative agreement with the administration,” CFU-UAW wrote on X shortly before 2 a.m., “and our strike is paused pending our ratification vote.”