Graduate Assistants Vote to Unionize

Dear Students, Faculty and Staff:

I am writing to provide an update on the graduate assistant union election. During a two-day election process, 764 eligible graduate students cast their votes with 728 voting to unionize.

As a result, 1,124 current graduate students will be represented by Syracuse Graduate Employees United (SGEU) and Service Employees International Union Local 200United (SEIU).

The bargaining unit of qualifying graduate students includes:

• All University Ph.D. students who are: (i) matriculated in a doctoral degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences, Whitman School of Management, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, School of Education, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, School of Information Studies, or College of Engineering and Computer Science; (ii) awarded a stipend and a condition of receiving the stipend is the performance of research, instructional or other specialty services that are related to the student’s academic program as duly appointed teaching assistants (TA), research assistants (RA) or graduate administrative assistants through the Graduate School.
• All University master’s students who are: (i) matriculated in a master’s degree program in the College of Arts and Sciences, Whitman School of Management, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, College of Visual and Performing Arts, School of Education, School of Architecture, Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, School of Information Studies, or College of Engineering and Computer Science; (ii) awarded a stipend and a condition of receiving the stipend is the performance of that in certain semesters these master’s students will provide research, instructional or other specialty services that are related to the student’s academic program as duly appointed TAs, RAs or graduate administrative assistants through the Graduate School.

Now that the election is complete, University and Union representatives will meet to discuss a possible schedule for negotiating a collective bargaining agreement, otherwise known as a “union contract.” This is an important process for all parties and we will negotiate in the spirit of partnership and respect that have been the hallmarks of our labor-management relationships to date. In the meantime, we remain committed to ensuring a positive, rewarding and successful experience for all our graduate students.

Finally, I want to thank our graduate students, union representatives and all members of our community for engaging in a constructive and respectful union election.

Sincerely,

Gretchen Ritter
Vice Chancellor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer