The time has come. After months of delays – after the administration abruptly walked away from a productive dialogue and process to hold a fair union election, we are holding a strike vote. 

Why We Must Prepare to Strike

The university has disingenuously suggested we can simply petition the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) for a union election.  Yet they have simultaneously implied they will challenge our right to form a union under the National Labor Relations Board process –  the Trump and Musk NLRB would create precedent dismantling Union rights for graduate workers at private universities. It’s something we have a hard time believing – that our own academic institution, which we know and love, would align with this extremist agenda when they find it opportunistic.  We know this is not the University of Rochester way.

Strike Authorization Vote Details

When:  March 24th – 28th, 9AM-5PM each day

Locations: 

River Campus 

Interfaith Chapel Lobby

March 24th – 28th, 9AM-5PM each day

School of Medicine & Dentistry

Miner Library Room 1.6223B

Wednesday, March 26th- Friday, March 28th 9AM-5PM each day

Eastman School of Music

NSL 308

Monday, March 24th 9AM-1PM

MC 320

Monday, March 24th 1PM-5PM

MC320

Tuesday, March 25th 9AM-5PM

Absentee Ballot Option: Union organizers will have absentee ballots available – ask your organizer for an absentee ballot if you wish to vote absentee.  Absentee ballots can be dropped in any ballot box or turned in to designated organizers for secure delivery.

Process: If two-thirds (2/3) of us vote YES, the Organizing Committee will be authorized to call a strike if the administration refuses to come back to the negotiating table.

Eligibility: All River Campus, School of Medicine & Dentistry, and Eastman School of Music graduate workers are eligible to vote.

Why Our Strike is Even More Urgent

Our strike is more critical now than ever as the administration has been silent amidst the federal onslaught on us as academics – attacks which disproportionately focus on the majority of us at UofR who come from Black, Brown, LGBTQ and International communities.  We need our administration to stand with us in this moment, not against us.

A strike is our strongest tool. We know strikes work because grads are using them and winning – but it will only be as powerful as our participation. Learning from other grads, we decided to hold an extended, week-long strike vote to build democratic participation from every grad worker.

What You Need To Do Right Now

All of us need to make a plan to vote – mark your calendar for March 24-28.  Additionally, talk to your coworkers – every vote matters. Ask them if they’re ready to vote YES to authorize the organizing committee to call a strike.

Questions? Reply to this email to talk to an Organizing Committee member.  Follow us on Instagram.  Read the strike FAQ.