The Northeastern Graduate Workers voted to officially form their union in September of 2023, with an overwhelming 94% voting YES for their union!
Since then, negotiations for their first union contract have been slow. The administration meets infrequently, and offered little to no improvement for the workers. For more than 17 months, they have dragged their feet and now, in May they issued an ultimatum: accept this deal (which we offered in January 2024, and have changed little since), or else we will stop bargaining.
This is unacceptable. Northeastern graduate workers are instrumental in the education of the undergraduate students here in Northeastern and provide the highest quality research while bringing in millions in research funds that help the university complete its academic mission.
Yet, they have been met with rejections, insults and flat out denials when they ask for the same standards that exist at other unionized universities across the country. Basic protections like ensuring the university keeps its promised, protections from harassment and discrimination, and protections from being abused or overworked.
Northeastern Grad Worker Deserve Better!
Please copy and paste the email below, edit however you see fit, and send it to the Northeastern administration and tell them: stop the delays and bargain a fair contract for the grad workers now!
to: [email protected]
cc: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]
Subject: I STAND WITH GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS
Dear President Aoun,
I am a [parent, community member, graduating undergraduate student] writing in support of the graduate student workers, especially in light of the recent “final offer” the university sent to all the graduate workers
The university has stalled bargaining and offered virtually no improvements while belittling graduate workers at the bargaining table. Recently, your administration presented an ultimatum to accept an unacceptable contract while claiming that student workers “should be proud” of what they’ve accomplished—without having offered meaningful improvements since January of 2024
More importantly, your administration’s contract proposal has offered conditions worse than the status quo, with raises that don’t keep up with inflation, stripping of healthcare from some grads, and will not protect your graduate workers in a hostile political climate. Compared to other universities which have graduate worker unions with strong contracts, Northeastern’s behavior is disappointing, unprofessional, and unacceptable.
[why are YOU standing with Northeastern graduate workers?]
Until Northeastern University settles with their graduate workers, I pledge to withhold alumni donations, will not enroll as a Double Husky, and will not recommend Northeastern to my relatives or future students.
[Your name]
[your association: community member, profession, etc.]