HELU is organizing for the long term. We want to shape and transform the politics and the conversation about higher education, taking advantage of the current juncture. Pramila Jayapal introduced a College for All bill on May 21, 2025 which has already garnered the support of 72 House Democrats and is sponsored by Bernie Sanders in the Senate. While this bill may have almost no chance of passing in this Congress or being signed by this President, the opportunity to bring higher ed into the public debate just before an election makes this a perfect moment to organize. As part of a multi-year plan to transform higher education, HELU is partnering with several congressional offices to ensure the bill addresses labor’s demands. At the same time, we are working to move elected officials towards bill sponsorship.
HELU considers the proposal made by Congresswoman Jayapal and Senator Sanders an excellent first step; however, we can also see the clear shortcomings the bill suffers from: it doesn’t address the job insecurity most workers experience in our sector, nor does it address the spiking cost and debt dependence resulting from the corporate-like governance of colleges, universities, and higher education institutions in general. Although we are supportive of any attempt to reduce cost and thus increase accessibility, that can’t be accomplished by suppressing wages or dismantling worker’s protections. HELU has an incredible opportunity here to change the content of the bill and shape the future of higher education as a whole.
To that end, HELU is launching our most comprehensive and ambitious delegate-engagement plan yet. This will enable workers to have a say both on the direction and content of College for All and the strategy to win it.
We have formed two working groups which will address the core issues not contained in the bill:
- Access and Debt
- Contingency and Working Conditions
Register
HELU delegates can join these working groups to discuss our priorities and strategize about how to move the bill forward. Each working group will meet twice in September. Register using the links below:
September 23rd 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT – “Debt and Cost” https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PMIx1D0RRSS-MMVke_Srdw
September 2nd 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT – “Contingency and Working Conditions” https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VHmIienuS7WAb5AaDa-J7A
September 16th 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT – “Contingency and Working Conditions” https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/wwzdj0MxRHaCtBcgE9Jkug
September 9th 7pm ET/ 6pm CT/ 5pm MT/ 4pm PT – “Debt and Cost” https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/pW-56zfxRC-Ayja_MXLiQw