A union representing graduate employees of the University of Illinois has reached a deal on a tentative contract with the university.

The deal comes after seven months of negotiations averts a strike.

Stephanie Seawell is a spokeswoman for the Graduate Employees Organization. She says members were to be briefed Tuesday night on the details.

She declined to reveal details until voting is finished. That's expected to take several days.

The critical issues were wages, health care and protection of tuition waivers.

Earlier this month, the union had approved a strike after negotiations failed to produce an agreement.

The contract expired in August, and a federal mediator was recently brought in. The mediator was involved in Tuesday's negotiations.