CGE-UAW Timeline

Graduate workers are shocked at a sudden increase, without warning, to their health insurance premiums. They come together to form CGE.

Graduate workers mount their first union campaign, focusing on poor working conditions, low stipends, and discriminatory practices. Penn State management spends millions of dollars on a disinformation campaign, specifically targeting STEM and international students with lies and veiled threats. The union vote fails by a margin of 3:2 against unionizing.

Spurred by the university’s inadequate response to the COVID-19 pandemic, CGE organizes a series of demonstrations, including a die-in in Summer 2020, a zap campaign in Fall 2020, and a vaccine mandate rally (in conjunction with other pro-worker campus organizations) in Fall 2021.

A group of graduate student workers involved in CGE, acting as a steering committee, revitalizes unionization efforts and begins pursuing affiliation with a national labor union.

After a year of conversations and consensus, CGE votes to affiliate with UAW.

Graduate student workers spend the year holding trainings, workshops, and Q&As to build support with friends and co-workers across the university. A goal is set to involve graduate workers from every college and department across Penn State.

After years of building support among graduate workers across the university, CGE-UAW begins officially signing authorization cards to form a union. This is the first step toward a union election! To learn more about this part of the process and where we go from here, check out our FAQ page!

Approximately 3,000 union authorization cards filed with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB). Penn State challenges the inclusion of Research Assistants and trainees in the bargaining unit.

Five-day PLRB hearing held to determine bargaining unit composition.

Hearing examiner issues decision including Research Assistants in the bargaining unit and excluding trainees.

80 Pennsylvania State Senators and Representatives send a letter to Penn State leadership urging respect for the election and supporting graduate worker unionization.

Union election held at Penn State Hershey Medical Campus.

Union election held at Penn State University Park Campus.

Votes counted — graduate workers approve union representation by a 90% margin (1,882 yes to 198 no out of approximately 4,300 eligible voters).

Penn State files an appeal regarding the inclusion of Research Assistants, triggering review by the full PLRB.