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Graduate students pushing to unionize at the University of Rochester have reached a tentative agreement to include hundreds of doctoral students in their prospective bargaining unit. The university previously disputed their inclusion.
For around eight months, the Graduate Labor Union and UR administrators have been meeting to finalize an agreement for a union election mediated by a private, independent arbitrator. SEIU Local 200United would represent the students if they opt for a union.
At a rally last month, union organizers said UR presented a draft agreement that excluded various classes of PhD students—particularly those whose positions are funded by external and training grants, those without residential advisor or teaching advisor positions, many first-years and those studying for doctor of music arts degrees at the Eastman School of Music.
On Dec. 12, GLU announced via social media that the university tentatively agreed to include PhD students on stipends who aren’t TAs or RAs, first-years only taking classes, and students whose positions are funded by training grants. According to organizers, this includes over 400 students.
Organizers said the concessions were made after they informed the administration that a large delegation of graduate students would deliver a letter to them calling the exclusions unjust.
“What our press conferences and planned delegation action show is that when grads come together to fight for what we want–we win,” GLU said in an Instagram post.
Despite this disagreement—which organizers called an attempt to bust the union—the GLU says the university has held to its commitment to remain neutral, and that students at UR haven’t faced threats and surveillance.
The students’ initial organizing efforts kicked off in early 2023 in the form of town hall meetings about graduate stipends. Initially calling themselves the “Graduate Student Collective,” the group didn’t publicize its intention to unionize until early 2024.
In a statement, UR Spokesperson Sara Miller says conversations about PhD students voting on representation with 200United have been productive.
“These conversations are continuing, and the University remains committed to reaching a private election agreement with Local 200United (SEIU), which is one path that can be taken in this process,” she says. “The University supports the right of our PhD students to decide whether union representation is right for them.”
Justin O’Connor is a Rochester Beacon contributing writer. The Beacon welcomes comments and letters from readers who adhere to our comment policy including use of their full, real name. See “Leave a Reply” below to discuss on this post. Comments of a general nature may be submitted to the Letters page by emailing [email protected].
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