We won the election 1696-155, now it’s time to win a great contract!
Check out GSU-UE’s 2023-2024 Bargaining Committee!


Our Platform
A Living Wage, Always – Increase the stipend floor for all grad workers, and ensure yearly raises are tied to inflation and other cost-of-living metrics.
Expanded Benefits – Guarantee dental and vision coverage. Eliminate out-of-pocket medical expenses. Ensure health insurance covers children and dependents.
Equitable Policies – Professional standards for work hours. Fairness in labs, classrooms, and community. Third party arbitration for Title IX and other grievances.
International Student Support – Financial support for visa and other fees. Access to confidential legal counsel. Equal work opportunities.
Transparency and Democracy – Transparency in the UChicago budget. Real grad power in UChicago decisions, budget, and investments.
This platform was formulated by surveying hundreds of grad workers across the University and was approved by members at one of our regular General Membership Meetings. Read the full platform document here. The current platform for Masters students (still under construction) is here.
Meet GSU-UE!
GSU has always been run by grad workers, for grad workers. See below why grad workers support forming a union! You can find more testimonials here.
Recent Updates from GSU-UE
Hot Bargaining Summer is here!
Hot Bargaining Summer Kick-off Party: 5/30! Dear Members, The historic day is upon us! Next Wednesday, May 31st, our bargaining committee is going to meet with the university for the first time after so many years of organizing. During this meeting, we will be delivering our language proposals to the university and setting up the…
We’re Going to the Table!
May 31: Time to Bargain! Dear Members, The date of the first bargaining session of our union with the UChicago administration is set to May 31. Our bargaining team is ready to deliver the language proposals on that day and decide the dates of next bargaining sessions. Our lead negotiator would be Kimberly Lawson, who…
WE WON! 1696-155
GSU-UE wins Union Election 1696-155 Dear Members, THE RESULTS ARE IN – and we think you’ll like them: We won 1696-155! A 92% margin! This victory belongs to the thousands of workers on this campus who turned out to vote. It was made especially possible by hundreds of organizers who built a campaign led by graduate workers…
Newsletter 2/20: Prepare to Bargain – GMM invite and Bargaining FAQ
Prepare to Bargain! Dear Members, We are eagerly waiting for the ballot count on March 16. Until then, a reminder that mail-in ballots must reach the NLRB office by March 14. The energy and momentum remain high! At the General Members Meeting on Tuesday, February 28, organizers will lay out a timeline to get to…
Newsletter 2/6: We voted for power in our workplace
We voted for power in our workplace! Last week, graduate workers came together to cast our votes and make it clear – we want a contract that secures a living wage, comprehensive health benefits, expanded international student support, and workplace protections here at UChicago! The atmospheres in GCIS, Pick, and Keller were joyous and collaborative…
About GSU-UE
GSU has been working since 2007 to improve the lives of graduate students and gain recognition for the work we do at this university. Together, we’ve won dramatic pay increases, better healthcare, fee cancellation, improved parental leave policies, stipends for childcare, and a freeze in Advanced Residency tuition.
Grad employees perform essential work and are the backbone of the University of Chicago. At some point every undergraduate student is taught by a grad instructor, and grad researchers advance scientific frontiers. As grad employees we deserve a seat at the table when decisions are made that affect our lives, those of our students, and the broader community. GSU represents a strong majority of graduate workers who stand together.
GSU is affiliated with the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE).
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