Harvard Graduate Students Union
The Harvard Graduate Students Union United Auto Workers (HGSU-UAW) is a labor union for Harvard’s graduate students, teaching assistants, and other student workers. About 5,000 people are in the bargaining unit, including grad students who work as research assistants or teaching fellows and some undergraduate students who teach.
Organizing started in 2015. By early 2016, union organizers said they had cards signed by over 60% of graduate students. In August 2016, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) ruled that graduate students at private universities can be employees with bargaining rights. A representation election was held in November 2016, with 1,274 voting yes and 1,456 voting no; 314 ballots were challenged. The NLRB later overturned that result, saying Harvard had not provided an accurate list of eligible voters and ordered a new election.
The second election took place in April 2018. The results were 1,931 votes in favor (56%) to 1,523 against, with about 70% of eligible voters participating. In May 2018, Harvard announced it would recognize the union and negotiate in good faith. The first bargaining session happened in October 2018.
On May 1, 2019, a sit-in and marches supported the union’s demands on issues like wages, health care, and protections against harassment. In July 2019, more than 300 union members signed a letter threatening a strike if progress stalled. In late October 2019, about 2,500 graduate students voted to authorize a strike, with 90.4% in favor.
The union went on strike for the first time starting December 3, 2019, and ending January 1, 2020, citing the need for stronger protections, better pay, and more affordable health care. In July 2020, Harvard and the union agreed to a one-year contract. In November 2021, members ratified a new four-year contract running from November 27, 2021, to June 30, 2025.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 03:22 (CET).