As you saw today at the RISE Conference, graduate students work every day to conduct original research to discover new technologies, understand society, and contribute to global knowledge. As graduate students, our research and teaching are essential to the functioning of Northeastern. The university is happy to celebrate our research projects and accomplishments at conferences like RISE, but they oppose our campaign for a seat at the table to discuss our wages and benefits.
We support the union because we want to focus on doing our research like was presented at RISE. But without a union, we face constant uncertainty about funding, healthcare, childcare, and a lack of protections from discrimination and abuse. A union would mean a seat at the table and the protection of a binding contract.
A majority of graduate students support the union and we want a voice in the workplace. We want a fair election, but Northeastern administrators walked out of negotiations that would have guaranteed just that. Northeastern has signaled that if we filed right now for an election they would likely appeal our union rights to the Trump-appointed majority at the National Labor Relations Board. If they appeal to the NLRB, the union rights of all graduate students at private universities will be overturned. This is why without an election agreement, we cannot have a fair election.
We are calling on President Aoun to respect our labor rights by guaranteeing that they will not appeal our employee status, and commit to bargaining with us for a contract if we win an election. Add your name to our petition alongside the many hundreds of graduate students who have already signed.
On Tuesday, April 17th at Noon on Krentzman Quad, we will rally to demand a fair election and call on President Aoun to respect our rights. We hope you will join us!
RSVP Here or on Facebook