Unionization in Higher Education Surges: A 133% Increase Among Graduate Student Employees Since 2012

The surge in unionization in higher education, particularly among graduate student employees in the United States, is a significant and noteworthy trend. A recent report by the National Center for the Study of Collective Bargaining in Higher Education and the Professions at Hunter College reveals that union membership among graduate student employees has increased by a staggering 133% since 2012. As of January 2024, approximately 38% of graduate student employees are unionized, encompassing more than 150,000 workers across 81 bargaining units.

Comprehensive Study Highlights Growth

This surge in unionization marks a dramatic shift in higher education labor dynamics. The study, the first comprehensive analysis since 2012, underscores the growing unionization trend among various academic groups, including non-tenure track faculty, postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers, and undergraduate student employees.

Adrianna Kezar, a professor and director of the Pullias Center for Higher Education at the University of Southern California, commented on the findings, stating, “The growth of non-tenure track faculty, postdocs, academic researchers, graduate, and undergraduate students shows how unionization is becoming a tactic of choice for change.”

Faculty and Postdoctoral Scholars See Growth

Unionized faculty members in higher education have experienced notable growth, with a 7.5% increase reported. There are now 402,217 unionized faculty members across over 600 institutions in 30 states and Washington D.C., with California, New York, and New Jersey leading in the number of unionized faculty. This growth underscores the momentum of the unionization movement.

The report also highlights the formation of the first postdoctoral scholar union at a private university, Columbia University, in 2020. As of this year, ten bargaining units represent exclusively postdoctoral scholars, comprising 11,471 employees. Additionally, two academic research units now represent 6,132 employees in the U.S.

Undergraduate Unionization on the Rise

Unionization efforts have also reached undergraduate student employees, with a particularly inspiring success story. In 2016, the first undergraduate student employee union in the U.S. was formed at Grinnell College in Iowa. The movement has since grown to include 19 exclusive undergraduate student employee units, representing 3,515 employees, showcasing the potential for progress in this area.

Context of Declining Union Density

This report on higher education unionization comes at a time when union density in the U.S. has steadily declined over the past few decades. Union membership among U.S. workers has dropped from 20.1% in 1983 to just 10% in 2023. This decline can be attributed to various factors such as obstacles in union organizing efforts, outdated labor laws, and changing economic and social conditions. Despite this decline, most Americans still express support for labor unions, indicating potential for resurgence in the future.

The findings in this report highlight a significant trend in the labor movement within higher education, showcasing unionization as a powerful tool for change amidst the broader decline in union density across the country. This surge in unionization could potentially lead to improved working conditions, better pay, and increased job security for graduate student employees, non-tenure track faculty, postdoctoral scholars, academic researchers, and undergraduate student employees in higher education institutions.