Penn State graduate students have voted overwhelmingly in favor of unionization.
During an election held in October, 1,882, or about 90% voted yes to forming a union affiliated with the United Auto Workers International Region 9 and 198 voted no, according to a social media post on Thursday by the Coalition of Graduate Employees at Penn State.
The CGE has spearheaded efforts to organize teaching, research and administrative support graduate assistants with goals “to increase pay, protect international student workers’ rights, strengthen job security, ensure equitable working and living conditions, and make other improvements,” according to its website.
After years of effort following a failed union vote in 2018, the group began collecting authorization cards in 2024, and in December the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board approved the election.
“Nearly a year after we filed cars with the Pennsylvania Labor Board, we have finally won the right to collectively advocate for the workplace we deserve,” CGE wrote in an Instagram post. “We’ve demonstrated overwhelming support for our union and our willing ness to show up for ourselves and each other when it counts! Let’s get ready to negotiate our first contract…”
University administrators have said that they believe graduate students are primarily students, and that the do not need a union to have their concerns heard.
“The University deeply values the contributions of our graduate students,” Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos said in a statement in October. “We also believe graduate students are students, first and foremost, at Penn State to pursue an advanced education and research training. The institution remains committed to supporting the academic journey, professional growth, and well-being of students who are integral to the University’s scholarly mission.”
All teaching, research and administrative support graduate assistants will be bound by the negotiated collective bargaining agreement, which will be subject to ratification by members.
A university spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment and information about next steps.
A group of Penn State faculty are also looking to form a union. The Penn State Faculty Alliance has been leading efforts to organize the university’s 7,600 tenured, non-tenured and part-time faculty, and is working to collect the necessary 30% sign off on authorization cards to submit to the PLRB.
