Grad union members work together to negotiate and enforce a contract that guarantees us the wages, benefits, and protections that we need to do our best work for the University.
Graduate student unions are not new! In 1969, the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Teaching Assistants Association was the first grad union to be recognized. Since then, dozens more have organized, or have begun the process. Recently, graduate student employees at prestigious universities like Brown, Harvard, and Georgetown have all voted to ratify strong first union contracts. Your graduate student colleagues at a majority of institutions in Pitt’s comparison class already have, or are forming, graduate student unions.
Higher ed is one of the most unionized sectors in the United States!
Graduate student unions are not new! In 1969, the University of Wisconsin–Madison's Teaching Assistants Association was the first grad union to be recognized. Since then, dozens more have organized, or have begun the process. Recently, graduate student employees at prestigious universities like Brown, Harvard, and Georgetown have all voted to ratify strong first union contracts. Your graduate student colleagues at a majority of institutions in Pitt’s comparison class already have, or are forming, graduate student unions.
Higher ed is one of the most unionized sectors in the United States!
Pitt’s comparison class: R1, Public Sector, AAU Members (34 Schools)
- The R1 designation and AAU membership places Pitt amongst top-tier, world-class research institutions within the United States.
- Being publicly-funded makes Pitt’s budget and economic planning different from purely private institutions within the University’s research classification, like Harvard or Yale.
- This comparison class used is the same one that Pitt’s administration uses when presenting information on Pitt’s standings within the academic community. We’re using it to allow real apples-to-apples comparison between our materials and the administration’s.
Grads at other institutions have negotiated major improvements to their working conditions, such as:
- Funding security, including 1-year extensions for grads whose research has been affected due to COVID-19.
- Annual, across-the-board stipend increases.
- Enhanced dental, vision, and mental health benefits.
- Improved family benefits, such as dependent health coverage, child-care subsidies, and paid maternity leave.
- Paid vacation and sick leave.
- Protections against discriminatory practices, sexual harassment, and assault.
- A fair grievance process for handling workplace issues that also protects the worker from retaliation.
- A legal right to have a say in decisions that affect our working conditions.
Please note, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to bargaining, and each agreement was negotiated by grads and university administration specifically for their needs. Our contract at Pitt will be built in the same way: by Pitt grads, for Pitt grads.
Don’t just take our word for it! Look into the grad union accomplishments at other universities. Links are provided below so that you can research current union organizing drives, as well as existing grad union contracts.
