Graduate Student Unionization Surge Reaches New Milestone

Protesters holding signs about unions and saving the American dream.

Rising unionization among graduate student workers has now reached a record 38%, signaling a significant shift in higher education.

At a Glance

A record high 38% of graduate student workers belong to a union.
Union representation among masters and doctoral students surged by 133% from 2012 to January 2024.
The number of unionized graduate students nearly doubled from 83,050 in 2020 to 150,104 in 2024.
60% of the growth in union representation occurred on private campuses.

Record Surge in Unionization

Unionization among graduate student workers has reached an unprecedented 38%, according to a new comprehensive report. This surge represents a striking 133% increase in union representation among master’s and doctoral students from 2012 to January 2024.

The number of unionized graduate students nearly doubled, rising from 83,050 in 2020 to 150,104 in 2024. This growth marks a sharp contrast to the broader national trend, where union membership has fallen.

The report indicates that 60% of the recent increase in unionization occurred on private campuses. These institutions have seen a significant shift in campus labor dynamics.

ICYMI | Higher education unionization has been surging. Story after story of successful union drives has suggested this. But a new report, which collected data on more than 95 percent of the collective bargaining relationships between academic workers and their institutions,… pic.twitter.com/OXyAixfaka

— Inside Higher Ed (@insidehighered) August 30, 2024

Generational Shift and Economic Pressures

Experts attribute this trend to a generational shift among younger students who are increasingly seeking better wages, benefits, and job protections through collective bargaining. The rise in unionization is not limited to graduate students; it includes non-tenured faculty, postdoctoral students, and undergraduate student workers.

“Some of this support for unions is related to the great disparities of wealth in our society and the tremendous difference in the financial conditions of a small group of ultra-wealthy owners and the millions of people who perform the labor that enables that wealth,” said Tim Cain, a University of Georgia professor of higher education.

Federal Policies and Institutional Adjustments

Pro-labor policies from the Biden-Harris administration have gained traction among younger workers, thereby boosting union membership. The Obama and Biden administrations have historically backed the unionization efforts among students at private campuses, whereas the Trump administration had an anti-union stance, halting the recognition of bargaining units.

“The increase in union representation requires administrators to adjust to workplace democracy, particularly in how decisions are made concerning working conditions,” Mr. Herbert said in an email. “Instead of changes being made unilaterally by a college, those issues must be discussed and hopefully resolved at the bargaining table.”

Financial challenges faced by numerous small colleges have forced closures, mergers, or budget cuts, making union negotiations even more crucial. The bulk of recent graduate student unionizations have happened at elite research universities with large endowments, partly shielded from economic pressures.

Future Outlook

Continued union growth is expected at private campuses as long as federal protections remain in place. This trend underscores the growing dissatisfaction among academics battling to make a living in an increasingly challenging industry.

Per the Guardian, “unionization has been surging in higher education, according to a new comprehensive report that reveals a 133% increase among graduate student employees in the US since 2012.”

The first undergraduate student employee union in the US appeared at Grinnell College in Iowa in 2016. Since then, the movement has gathered momentum, reflecting a broader collective action sweeping across higher education in response to decades of increasing financial and job insecurity.