Possible PhD Student Strike FAQs

A strike is an organized and collective work stoppage by a group of employees (or in some cases, students), usually intended to force the employer to accept the demands of those striking or to protest an alleged unfair labor practice. Persons striking might organize picket lines in publicly accessible locations in front of their work areas (and often elsewhere) where they hold signs, march, and chant. The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) provides additional information regarding the right to strike and a definition of lawful and unlawful strikes.

We do not know.

No. The decision to strike or not is an individual one. A union or a student organization cannot force graduate students to go on strike. Just as faculty may not retaliate against graduate students because they choose to strike, graduate students who continue fulfilling their TA and academic responsibilities during a strike should be welcome to do so without fear of negative repercussions from faculty, staff, or fellow students. Strike or no strike, every student member of the University of Rochester community is expected to conduct themselves according to the principles and policies laid out in University of Rochester policies.

Yes, International Students are able to strike if they so choose but are reminded that they – like all other students – must remain in good academic standing. International Students with concerns about the strike are encouraged to reach out to the International Services Office.

Graduate students are permitted to picket or demonstrate in open-air spaces on campus if they comply with University of Rochester policies. Picketing or demonstrating on any University of Rochester property, including but not limited to inside buildings, is only permitted with appropriate authorization through the DVPP. Posting flyers and other literature in or on University of Rochester buildings is subject to University of Rochester-wide and building-specific policies.

Yes, your student status will not be impacted by any potential strike. You should continue with your normal student activities, including attending classes and making normal academic progress toward degree completion.

You can continue to access facilities (such as research labs and offices) in your capacity as a graduate student, consistent with applicable policies.

Violence; property damage; threats; intimidation; blocking of building entrances, parking lots and garages; and picketing or protests inside University of Rochester buildings are examples of many kinds of conduct that are prohibited during a strike, just as they would be at other times, consistent with University policies. If picketer or other strike-related behavior escalates to verbal abuse, threats, or physical contact, or picketing that prevents people from being able to safely enter and leave buildings, it should be reported to the Department of Public Safety (“DPS”).

Consistent with Federal law, universities are not required to pay graduate students who are on strike. Thus, if a graduate student strikes, their university may withhold pay.

If your research-related responsibilities are related to your academic progress, then a failure to complete these activities may be reflected in your grade.

The University steadfastly prohibits any retaliation for engaging in protected strike activities. However, we want to be clear that any obligations a student has concerning academic pursuits and the student’s degree, must be fulfilled and the student is not relieved of any such requirements of an academic program.

Governing faculty also are not permitted to engage in sympathy strikes, and do not have the same protections as employees who strike, due to their positions within the University’s governance structure. Some non-union staff members are legally permitted to engage in sympathy strikes. If they do so, they will not be paid and, depending on the length of the strike, their health insurance and other benefits could be impacted. All currently unionized staff at the University of Rochester have a no-strike clause in their collective bargaining agreements while the Agreement is in effect, thus are unable to participate in a strike of any kind.

Students have already approached faculty members asking them to signal their support for graduate students.

University of Rochester faculty are prohibited from coercing or restraining others as to their participation in union activities. We caution that signing a letter of support could create the impression that students who do not support unionization will suffer adverse consequences from the faculty member who signs.

Governing faculty should be especially mindful that they are representatives of the management of the University who, under the law, are prohibited from negotiating directly with students or their representatives on union issues. To avoid creating an impression that this has taken place, we request that you do not sign whatever you are being requested to sign. You are also encouraged to bring any concerns raised by the students to your dean, who will bring them to University of Rochester’s leadership team.

You can express an opinion if asked, but as a supervisor, you are not permitted to coerce or pressure a graduate student. This includes the following:

• Promises intended to induce someone not to strike.
• Statements that could be perceived as a threat.
• Comments that could be construed as suggesting that graduate students may be retaliated against in some way in the future (such as a loss of support or funding, or that their ability to receive an employment reference could be compromised).

You can relate any/all of the following:

• The decision about whether to participate in the strike is a personal one.
• You hope that they will continue to engage academically.

You may also have conversations on continuity of research and teaching operations and expectations related to a student’s academic progress. You can ask students to share protocols, access to course materials or documents, or anything you need to know to maintain continuity of operations. You can also communicate specific expectations around academic progress; this may be important in schools where teaching is an educational requirement and connected to for-credit coursework.

No. Pursuant to federal labor law, a supervisor may not ask employees (or here, graduate students) whether they intend to participate in a strike or engage in other unionization activity. Individuals who hold supervisory roles over graduate students, including faculty, should be cautioned not to generally question graduate students about their strike activities, such as asking them whether they are going to strike, who else is going to strike, how many graduate students are supporting the strike, what is the level of support for the strike, and how long it will last.

However, and especially once a strike has commenced, faculty may ask graduate students whether they plan to continue to perform duties assigned to them in connection with their appointment. Such questioning should be done in strict accordance with the National Labor Relations Act and the guidelines provided by the NLRB. Accordingly, a faculty member asking a graduate student whether they plan to continue to work must do the following:

1. Specifically tell the graduate student that they are free to answer the question posed or not. The graduate student’s response is strictly voluntary, and they must be told that by the faculty member.
2. Provide the graduate student with the purpose of the questioning. For example, “In order to plan for the teaching of the course to which you were assigned, and to make sure the class is covered for our students, I would like to know if you will be carrying out that assignment.”
3. Specifically assure the graduate student that no reprisals will be taken against them if they refuse to answer the question or if they participate in a strike.

In doing so, a faculty member should also be very careful not to otherwise question the graduate student about the strike itself or to otherwise expand the conversation beyond the particular question posed. They may also verify, either by checking themselves or by asking students, whether sections/planned reviews are being held or whether lab assignments have been addressed.

Whether pro-unionization or anti-unionization, every student member of the University of Rochester community is expected to conduct themselves according to the principles and policies laid out in University policies.

The University works hard to protect the rights and dignity of all students. All forms of harassment, discrimination and bullying are strictly prohibited by the University’s policies. Complaints reported to the University will be promptly reviewed and investigated as appropriate in accordance with University policy.

Labs should communicate academic expectations for graduate students in the event of a strike, including stating whether graduate students are required to carry out experiments or have other essential responsibilities that they must perform in order to be in good academic standing.

Faculty should contact their deans with any questions or concerns.

In keeping with NLRB guidelines, it is important that faculty who oversee graduate students do not interfere with, coerce, or restrain unionization activities. Please avoid initiating any discussion of a strike with graduate students. Don’t ask students what they think about unionization, what other students think, who the unionization’s supporters are, or any other questions about the unionization effort’s internal affairs. If a student volunteers information, you may listen but do not ask follow-up questions.

Yes. Faculty members are free to continue discussing academics, research, programs of study, classes, and coursework, and a student’s academic progress during a strike.

We respect that faculty members will have a range of views on this issue. However, University of Rochester governing faculty are considered managers (and, concerning graduate students covered by the NLRA, supervisors) and are themselves not covered by the National Labor Relations Act. Faculty should be especially mindful that they are representatives of the institution’s management who, under the law, are prohibited from negotiating directly with students or their representatives on union issues.

A graduate-student strike does not change a faculty member’s obligation to perform their duties, including submitting grades or conducting class.

You are also encouraged to bring any concerns the students raise to your dean or associate dean, who will bring them to University of Rochester’s leadership team.

Graduate students are, first and foremost, University of Rochester students. A strike does not absolve a student from their academic responsibilities. As such, striking students are expected to progress satisfactorily toward their degrees. This includes coming to class, completing academic assignments, taking exams, continuing research toward their dissertation, and meeting the relevant academic milestones in their program’s handbook.

Students are expected to continue to make satisfactory academic progress at all times while enrolled. Grades for all courses, including research and teaching courses, should be assigned using the same academic metrics and standards as they would under normal circumstances.

TAs will not be required to inform you if they are going on strike. Once a strike has been announced, you should assume that TAs will not be attending to their TA responsibilities.

Please communicate with your students immediately if you anticipate any disruption to your class. Students will have understandable concerns about receiving their final grades on time and the status of their assessments, so please be sure to address your plans in this regard. If a TA goes on strike and stops hosting office hours and replying to messages, provide your students with an alternate point of contact. You can explain the factual background of the strike and share this website with them.

No, you may not ask them if they plan to strike. However, ahead of a strike (and as soon as possible), you can ask RAs to prepare a detailed report on the status of their research and confirm they are caught up with their assigned tasks. You may not ask graduate students to work over their allotted time, but you can ask them to ensure that essential tasks are current.

Faculty should make plans to ensure that critical research components, such as animals, plants, equipment, and other sensitive research assets, are maintained. In addition:

• Continue to follow all safety procedures.
• Postpone experiments if requirements for the minimum number of individuals cannot be met.
• Safeguard critical research assets.
• Ensure critical data assets are backed up and accessible.
• Consider preserving critical cell lines and other assets.
• Deliveries of research supplies and materials may be delayed. Order ahead, delay deliveries, or plan alternatives in case of delays.
• Expect that some campus user facilities may be short-staffed during a strike.

You may not assign additional work to non-striking RAs.

Faculty members are aware that their teaching assistants may go on strike. If you need support for your coursework, we encourage you to see your instructor. University of Rochester also has an array of other resources to assist you. Please talk to your undergraduate dean if you are encountering any problems.

Very few classes have a graduate student as the instructor of record. As a result, it is unlikely that undergraduate lecture classes will stop due to a strike. Many labs or recitation sections would be affected, and your professors and lab managers will let you know what to do.

Yes, attendance is required during a strike to the same degree it was required before the strike.

Graduate students have the right to demonstrate peacefully as provided in the DVPP. and the University of Rochester will not retaliate against any student engaging in lawful activity under the DVPP.

Students have the right to continue their education during this time. The University has the right to maintain teaching and learning activities during the strike period. You, as a student, remain responsible for your academic progress, and if you choose not to attend class, there could be a negative impact on your academic progress and grade. Unexcused absences will be handled in accordance with University policy.

Parents should feel free to contact the University provost at provost@rochester.edu.