Groton Democratic Reps. Joe de la Cruz and Christine Conley on Thursday applauded the state House's passage of a collective bargaining agreement between the UConn Board of Trustees and the GEU-UAW union.

House Resolution 9 provides annual wage increases of 2 percent for each of the next four fiscal years. This affects more than 2,100 teaching, research and graduate assistants.

"Grad students are a vital part of keeping costs under control at UConn," de la Cruz said in a news release. "Their services reduce the burden on the teaching staff and university payroll while providing graduates with reasonable wages for their hard work."

Conley commented, "The Avery Point campus is an economic engine for the region. This is more than a labor agreement, it's a stimulus package for southeastern Connecticut."

The vote was 74 to 71, and the Senate must pass a similar resolution.