Northeast Regional Bargaining

As unions representing the workers who make higher education happen, our members are uniquely positioned to change the status quo. We are food service, custodial, grounds and maintenance, clerical, security, research, technical, teaching, professional staff, medical, undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral workers. We work in community and technical colleges, public colleges and universities, and private institutions of higher learning. We make higher education work.

It is time for a Northeast regional bargaining strategy to leverage the power of workers across job categories and institutions to raise the standards of work, learning, research, care, and the integrity of educational programs in our higher ed and academic medical systems.

Speakers at a 2025 Action in Philadelphia

The Amherst Compact

The Amherst Compact outlines a worker-centered vision for the future of higher education. Over the coming years, higher ed workers will secure significant wins on key issues by coordinating demands and organizing strategies. Higher ed union locals in ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, and PA can sign on to the Compact & get involved in ongoing coordination and organizing.

Endorse the Amherst Compact as an organization
See full endorsement list

Key Issues

The Amherst Compact, created at the Northeast Regional Bargaining Summit held in Amherst, MA in January 2026, sets out targeted areas for coordinated organizing through shared bargaining demands, member education, joint actions, and forging new or strengthening existing campus labor coalitions to fight for: 

  • Fair Compensation
  • Strengthening Job Security and Fair Working Conditions
  • Expanding Accessible Health Care & Benefits
  • Paid Leave Rights and Protections
  • Supporting Research, Professional Development and Career Advancement
  • Academic Freedom
  • Creating A Safe and Healthy Workplace
  • Centering Workers in Implementing New Technology
  • Caring for Our Communities—Bargaining for the Common Good
  • Protecting and Expanding Collective Bargaining Rights

The Amherst Compact has been gaining endorsements since January 2026. Is your union working on these issues? Contact us to learn more and get involved.

HELU aims to bring this program of coordinated organizing to other regions of the U.S. If you’re not in the Northeast and want to get involved, please reach out to us at info@higheredlaborunited.org.

For press requests and other inquiries, please reach out to nerb@higheredlaborunited.org.