Campus & Community

Agreement Between University and Syracuse Graduate Employees United and SEIU Local 200United

Thursday, March 2, 2023, By News Staff

Dear Members of the Syracuse University Community:

Over the last several weeks, Syracuse Graduate Employees United (SGEU), the Service Employees International Union Local 200United (SEIU) and Syracuse University engaged in productive conversations about the graduate student unionization efforts. As a result of that dialogue, we reached an agreement [PDF] that will guide a graduate student union campaign and election. Together, we want to provide you an overview of what the campus community can expect as this process gets underway.

Guiding Principles

First and foremost, the University and SGEU are committed to ensuring an inclusive, respectful and equitable process. Together, we will work to create an environment where the opinions, voices and ideas of all graduate students are given consideration on this important matter. As part of this joint agreement:

  • Neither party will conduct itself or communicate in a negative, derogatory or demeaning way about the other party, about labor unions or employers generally.
  • Neither party will engage in such conduct as threats, misrepresentations or delaying tactics.
  • Neither party will provide support or assistance of any kind to any person or group which is opposed to the principles of this agreement.
  • Neither party will commit any unfair labor practice.

We believe this agreement provides a fair and expeditious process to determine whether a majority of eligible graduate students wishes to unionize and select SEIU as its exclusive bargaining representative. The agreement also defines who would be eligible to vote in a union election.

Community Resources

As this effort proceeds, we will collectively provide updates and pertinent information, including guidelines for administrators, faculty, students and SGEU to help maintain fairness throughout this process. We will also share information about election procedures, voter eligibility guidelines and dispute resolution processes. In addition, a Union-Management Committee, made up of representatives from both Syracuse University and SGEU, will be formed as a resource to answer inquiries and address concerns from community members.

We will continue to update the campus community as appropriate.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer

Scott R. Phillipson, Esq.
President, SEIU Local 200United