Creating a stronger, more equitable USC

As Graduate Student Workers at USC, we do critical work which powers teaching and research at USC, and are proud to play an integral role in making USC run. However, many of us lack secure rights and protections in the workplace, and we struggle with low pay and high housing costs, inadequate health care, and increasing uncertainty about our futures. 

By coming together to form a union, we intend to collectively bargain with USC to improve our working conditions, and to create a stronger and more equitable USC. We have witnessed the power of organized academic workers nearby at the University of California and across the country who have dramatically improved their working conditions through unionization with the UAW. Beyond USC, we aim to increase the voice of all academic workers by advocating for increased research funding, fair visa and immigration policies in the US, and safer, more just working environments in all academic institutions.

In 2020, we reached out to UAW (International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America) to help us successfully form a union. UAW is one of the largest and most diverse unions in North America. Over 100,000 employees in higher education have already chosen to join UAW, including Graduate Student Employees at UCLA, Harvard, Columbia, UConn, University of Washington, and more.