University of Chicago Graduate Workers Affirm Union

University of Chicago graduate employees voted decisively and overwhelmingly for union recognition in a history-making vote tallied today. Founded in 2007, Graduate Students United (GSU) has worked together to enhance conditions on their campus. GSU will now be formally affiliated with the American Association of University Professors, the American Federation of Teachers and the Illinois Federation of Teachers.

AAUP President Rudy Fichtenbaum said: “Chicago graduate workers have already set standards and accomplished much for their campus by standing together. GSU's strength and tenacity in the face of relentless challenges by the administration is an inspiration to colleagues across the country, colleagues who recognize their campus contributions as significant. The work they do is critical to the university's teaching and research mission and the university works because they do. We look forward to supporting GSU every step of the way to maintain a meaningful voice on campus and quality in higher education.”

Last year, the National Labor Relations Board formally classified private colleges’ graduate teaching and research assistants as workers. The AAUP works with and represents grads at many colleges and universities, including Portland State University, Rutgers, and the University of Rhode Island.