Exciting Milestone: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Research Assistants Unite in Union Formation – IPM Newsroom

Research assistants at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have joined the Graduate Employees’ Organization (GEO) after the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board confirmed the results of their recent union election. This means that research assistants are now officially recognized as university employees. They can participate in future contract negotiations with the GEO.

Before this change, only teaching assistants and certain types of graduate assistants had access to benefits from the collective bargaining agreement. With their inclusion, research assistants will be able to negotiate for better pay, health insurance, and workload expectations.

The unionization effort was spearheaded by graduate students Xenia Osterhout and Arthur Paganini. They spent a year engaging with fellow students through outreach, planning, and organizing events. Paganini emphasized the importance of open conversations to build trust among graduate workers who often have concerns about funding and job security.

“Having these conversations is essential,” he said. “It helps us understand our rights and how unionization can address our shared concerns.”

Osterhout noted the urgency of establishing protections for graduate researchers amid federal threats to higher education funding. “Without a union, we cannot be confident that the university will protect our livelihoods or the quality of research,” she explained, highlighting a common fear among graduate workers.

Bringing research assistants into the GEO’s contract is expected to enhance transparency and equity in how funding and benefits are distributed. It will also allow them access to a grievance process—giving them a voice in workplace issues.

The university’s director of executive communications, Patrick Wade, stated that the Labor and Employee Relations staff will collaborate with union leaders to ensure a smooth integration of research assistants into the contract, similar to how pre-professional graduate assistants were added last year.

Negotiations to include research assistants in the contract are set to start next month. The GEO is also preparing for full contract discussions as their current agreement expires next year. They plan to gather input from members to ensure everyone’s voice is heard in decision-making.

In a broader context, the rise of university unions reflects a growing trend across the country. Over the last decade, there has been a significant increase in unionization efforts among academic workers. According to a report by the National Center for Education Statistics, union membership in education has risen by approximately 23% in the past ten years. This reflects a larger movement among workers demanding better protections and benefits in various sectors.

In summary, the unionization of research assistants at the University of Illinois is not just a local issue, but part of a growing national push for fair labor practices in academia. This momentum could lead to more empowered voices for graduate workers across the United States.



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