Members of the union that represents graduate student employees of the University of Illinois have approved a new contract that will raise wages and continue tuition waivers.

The Graduate Employees Organization said Friday that more than 95% of the union members who voted approved of the new 5-year agreement. The vote ends more than seven months of negotiations.

A news release from the GEO says graduate student workers will get a 2.5% raise the first year. The minimum wage for graduate students will also be raised in increments over the life of the deal. About 40% of graduate student workers make the minimum wage.

Tuition waivers were a key sticking point but will be maintained at current levels.

The union has about 2,400 members.