Graduate Workers Demand Respect and a Union

Pouring rain did not stop over 1,000 graduate teachers and researchers and their allies as they marched from Yale president Peter Salovey's mansion to his office on Prospect St. chanting “What do We Want? - -Union When do We want it? -- Now.”

The graduate workers are demanding university neutrality at all levels as they sign up their co-workers for union recognition of Unite Here Local 33.

“I know to be a good teacher to my students, I need to be trained, supported and adequately paid for the work that I do on this campus,” said Abigail Fields of the French Department who led the speaking program.

Graduate workers from departments across the campus demanded respect for their work and neutrality, including from the sciences, humanities and languages, and the professional schools.

Several told how they are forced to live pay check to pay check without medical security, despite the importance of their work to the University's functioning.

“In 1994 the University told us we did not need a union, we did not need jobs, we were working for pin money,” said Barbara Vereen chief steward of Unite Here Local 34 which represents 4,000 clerical and technical workers, recalling their organizing drive.

“Look what we turned these jobs into today! The best jobs with the best benefits because Local 35 service and maintenance workers stood with us,” she said pledging solidarity with Local 33..

“You are a part of the entire U.S. Labor movement!” said Gwen Mills, secretary treasurer of Unite Here. “We are calling on Yale to publicly commit to remaining neutral on this union election.”

“I asked myself how New Haven could be a place for everyone to thrive while Yale only has a few people's interests at heart?” said Mills. “The answer I bring is solidarity.”

Among those who marched with Local 33 were many elected officials, representatives of other unions and community groups organized by New Haven Rising.

Graduate workers first sought union recognition in the 1990s. During the most recent attempt in 2016 the university claimed graduate teachers and researchers are students not workers, refusing to recognize a union.

U.S. Rep Rosa DeLauro kicked off the march calling on the university to “recognize the graduate workers and their union,” while U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal said, “This is what democracy looks like.”