Tell Penn State Admin: Stop Fighting Grad Workers!
Since we filed union authorization cards with the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board in December, grad workers have come together in increasing numbers this spring semester to urge the administration to respect the will of the majority and let us form our union. But Penn State admin has persisted in delaying the process, forcing an unnecessary and lengthy hearing process to determine whether RAs and Trainees should be included in our union. Before the hearing begins in June, grad workers are signing onto a letter, demanding that the administration drop their objection to including researchers in our union and let us vote to form our union. Over 1000 grad workers have signed on so far – add your name before the hearing!
In January, hundreds of graduate workers signed onto a letter to every college dean, asking for their support. In February, we submitted public comment to the Board of Trustees, requesting that they allow for a union vote to be scheduled this semester. The graduate workers of the GPSA passed a resolution in support of unionizing, again calling on the administration to let us move forward with this democratic process. In March, over 500 of us came together to rally in front of Old Main to send a clear message – that we’re ready to vote for our union now.
On May 1st, International Workers Day, grad workers organized a picket in front of Old Main demanding that Penn State administration acknowledge that RAs and trainees are workers and let us hold our union vote. During the picket, grad workers spoke about the precarity that we continue to face as a result of our delayed union vote. Grads also spoke about the destructive impacts of the Trump administration’s policies on grad labor, including visa revocations, cuts to federal research funding, and threats to academic freedom.
Graduate workers want to know: why is Penn State admin fighting us instead of fighting these federal cuts and threats to our job security and safety?
Penn State Admin Must Stop the Delays: Sign On Right Now!
As of today, over 1,000 grad workers have signed onto a letter demanding that the admin drop their objection and stop standing in our way. It’s not too late, you can add your name today to show the administration that the majority supports forming a union! We know that we are workers, and we know that Penn State admin should be fighting attacks on higher education, not their own workers!
The hearing to determine the employee status of RAs and trainees is scheduled to begin on June 2nd – but the admin can drop their objection at any time and allow RAs and trainees to join their fellow workers in voting for our union. We must continue to pressure Penn State admin to respect the will of grad workers and let us hold our election. By signing on to this letter, grad workers can show the admin that support for our union is overwhelming, and our winning a fair contract is inevitable. Together, we can discourage them from continuing to delay into the Fall semester.
REMINDER: If you haven’t yet, add your name to this letter to the university administration urging them to drop their objections and allow RAs and trainees to be included in our union!