GRADUATE STUDENTS UNITED
AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO
Graduate Students United - United Electrical (GSU-UE) is the autonomous, democratic, member-run union of graduate student employees at the University of Chicago.
April 6, 2026
Join the contract action team!
GSU will negotiate a second contract at the start of 2027. This will be a critical moment for our union and for grad labor across the country. With rising authoritarianism threatening university workers and legal attacks jeopardizing the right of grad workers to unionize under federal law, the stakes are existential. Either UChicago takes advantage of federal attacks to diminish our power, or we work together to win decisive gains and show admin we’re here to stay.
On April 6th, GSU launched our Contract Action Team (CAT). Much like during our first contract fight in 2023, a strong CAT with hundreds of organizers across campus will be critical to winning the strongest contract possible in 2027. At this initial CAT meeting, we launched our first organizing drive for the new contract, including our bargaining survey. The CAT is open to all members. If you care about the future of our union and our campus, join now!
Sign A new membership card
All graduate workers who will receive the full benefits and protections of the contract (including teaching assistants; research assistants; grader; lecturers; preceptors and CCTL fellows) must choose to either: become a member of GSU-UE Local 1103 and pay dues, OR not become a member, and instead pay an agency fee to the union. The easiest way to become a current member of the Union is to sign a NEW membership card and authorize monthly membership dues.
WHO WE ARE
GSU-UE is the labor union for graduate students employed in teaching or research at the University of Chicago. We won our ability to collectively bargain after fifteen years of organizing on campus. We won our election in March of 2023, and we ratified our first contract in March of 2024. We continue to support UChicago graduate workers now and into the future.
