Chair’s Message

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121: We started off 2026 with an energetic Northeast Regional Bargaining (NERB) summit that brought together representatives from 55+ unions across the Northeast to collectively author the Amherst Compact outlining shared bargaining priorities around topics like compensation, job security, academic freedom, health care, leave, and more.  […]

Throughout June, we connected with hundreds of HELU member unions, leaders, delegates, at-large members, and fellow workers across the broader higher ed labor movement. At Labor Notes in Chicago, it was incredibly energizing to spend time in person identifying shared concerns, discussing coordinated strategies, and gearing up for federal fights necessary to rewrite the future

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121: What’s next?  In the months leading up to May Day, higher ed workers from coast to coast built power around a simple but powerful set of demands to assert a worker-centered vision for higher ed. More importantly, workers, students, and alumni on campuses and metro

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121: This May Day, thousands of higher ed workers, students, alumni, and community members from coast to coast are taking to the streets. Will you be a part of the growing movement? Learn more and register for a May Day action near you. Additionally, hear from

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121: Last week in New York City, HELU members and delegates joined hundreds of striking workers and higher ed union members at the Contract Faculty United-UAW picket line. Despite the blustery weather, the solidarity was clearly palpable – and after 2 days on strike, CFU-UAW won

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121: What would it look like for the higher ed labor movement to make our collective power visible on May 1st, 2026?  Yesterday, HELU delegates came together for the first General Assembly of 2026. In addition to reviewing and approving reports on HELU activities over the

From Levin Kim, HELU Chair and member of UAW 4121 The struggle for immigration justice and the struggle to re-orient higher ed for the public good are one and the same. Both institutions have long been driven by the same logics of austerity, contingency, and authoritarian control. I know, like many of us, that this

Earlier this month, workers, students, faculty, and staff organized actions at more than 100 campuses across the US to call for a higher education system that centers affordability, security, and freedom. In New York, a cross-union coalition organized a successful action against Marc Rowan, the billionaire Trump ally who recently revealed himself as one of

Higher ed workers from wall-to-wall and coast-to-coast formed HELU in 2021 recognizing the need for more coalitional, cross-union work in our movement. In our current crisis, where the landscape is constantly shifting and attacks come from every angle, both the need and the opportunity for coalitional work is greater. We are proud to announce that

Levin Kim, Chair and member of UAW 4121 At our August General Assembly, HELU delegates and members discussed questions around the future of our movement to shape the direction of HELU’s work. What strategies and resources do we need for the fight ahead as an organization?  On strategy, delegates expressed interest in expanding HELU regional