Syracuse University graduate student employees vote in favor of unionizing

By Emma Misiaszek for CNY Central | Published on April 5, 2023

The content of the original article is pasted below and is the intellectual property of CNY Central. To read the original article, click here.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — On April 3 and 4, 1,130 graduate student employees at Syracuse University voted overwhelmingly to form a union, joining a wave of graduate unionization victories and strikes across the country.

The workers, organized under the banner Syracuse University Graduate Employees United and affiliated with Service Employees International Union Local 200United, voted 728 to 36 to form their union, with 90 contested ballots, at JMA Wireless Dome on SU's campus.

Graduate student employees cited low stipends, high workloads, poor healthcare benefits and lack of support for international and marginalized graduate student employees as their reasons for organizing.

"This is only the first step. Our goal is to win improvements to our working conditions and wellbeing through a collectively bargained contract," Bhargavi Parthasarathy, an international PhD student in Math said.

Over 1,000 undergraduate students signed a petition supporting the grads, while over 250 signed a letter of support. Elected officials and faculty have also shown their support for graduate student employees.

“It’s an honor to stand with Syracuse University graduate workers as their dedication and determination pay off, winning their right to unionize. SU graduate workers teach, grade papers, and research while carrying a heavy class load, so they deserve a living wage for the long hours and hard work. I’m excited they’re finally being recognized, and I look forward to how Syracuse Graduate Employees United improves living and working conditions for current and future graduate workers,” Sen. Rachel May said.

Research Assistants at SUNY-ESF, located next to Syracuse University's campus, also announced their intent to unionize on March 30, a few days before the SU graduate workers' vote.

"This win sets an important precedent for our relationship with the administration, giving us a voice in our working conditions," Nathan Perez-Espita, Graduate Assistant in Public Administration and International Affairs said. "Over time, I'm confident that it will make Syracuse University a better place to learn and work."