Graduate Student Unionization
The University of Chicago is deeply committed to supporting our graduate students. We constantly seek opportunities to improve and enhance graduate education and regularly engage with graduate students and other key stakeholders to obtain feedback.
The University's initial contract with Graduate Students United – United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (GSU-UE) became effective April 1, 2024. The contract is available to view, and a final signed version will be added as soon as possible. The below FAQ will be updated soon to include additional information about the contract and its implementation. We encourage all graduate students to learn more about unionization and consider how it affects them and their programs, now and in the future.
Last updated: April 17, 2024
General
Yes. On March 24, 2023, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) certified the results of a secret ballot election in which a majority of voters cast ballots in favor of union representation by Graduate Students United – United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (GSU-UE). As a result, the University has recognized GSU-UE as the exclusive bargaining agent of a group of graduate students who provide instructional and research services.
The bargaining unit as proposed by GSU-UE and certified by the NLRB in 2023 is: “All graduate students enrolled in University of Chicago degree programs who are employed to provide instructional or research services, including but not limited to Teaching Assistants, Research Assistants, Course/Teaching Assistants, Graduate Student Instructors, Graduate Student Lecturers, Instructional Graders, Language Assistants, Preceptors, Research Interns, Teaching Consultants, CCTL Teaching Fellows, Teaching Interns, Teaching Lab Assistants, Tutors, Writing Interns, and Writing Lectors, in the Divinity School, the Crown Family School of Social Work Policy and Practice, Division of the Social Sciences, Division of the Humanities, Division of the Biological Sciences, Division of the Physical Sciences, Booth School of Business, Irving B. Harris School of Public Policy, and the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. The bargaining unit excludes: undergraduate students, graduate students who are not employed to provide instructional or research services, Workshop Coordinators, Peer Mentors, office clerical employees, managers, guards and supervisors as defined in the Act.”
In February, 2024, GSU-UE proposed to add graduate students enrolled in University of Chicago degree programs who are employed to provide instructional or research services in the Law School. An election determined that these students will join the existing union bargaining unit.