From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121, student workers, researchers and postdocs at the University of Washington
Over the first six months in office, the Trump Administration attempted to gut funding for crucial research, attack immigrant and non-citizen workers, curtail academic freedom and freedom of speech, and more. These attacks on higher ed workers and institutions have been the centerpiece of the right wing’s political agenda to expand control and power over public-serving institutions in service of the interests of the ultra-wealthy few.
In March, 1,200 full- and part-time faculty & classified staff at the Community College of Philadelphia (AFT Local 2026) won transformative contracts after building a credible strike threat with 87% turnout and 97% voting to authorize a strike; in April, 3,000 graduate workers at Cornell (UE Local 300) won a first contract with 97% voting to ratify; and recently, 700 Research Coordinators and Consultants at the University of Washington (UAW Local 4121) ratified a first contract in just 4 months since winning an election to form a new bargaining unit.
These are just a few of the countless victories that higher ed workers have won so far this year through a commitment to organizing. Higher ed workers across the US are fighting back by forming coalitions, taking political action, organizing mass actions, and more. Even amidst a challenging landscape, higher ed workers across the US are organizing — and winning. As we head into the rest of 2025 and beyond, let’s continue our work to build a fighting coast-to-coast & wall-to-wall higher ed labor movement with the power to not only meet this moment, but to seize this opportunity to create a world that works for all workers.