The University has recently agreed to meet with the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (“PERB”) and the SEIU Union President. Though we are happy to meet with PERB, the University maintains that working directly with our students remains our preference. Over the last year, many graduate students have met with University leaders, school leaders, and graduate education staff as well as their assigned faculty advisors and faculty mentors, to reach their educational and career goals. That option continues to be available to all students.
In consideration of several important external changes, including the recent Vanderbilt University v. National Labor Relations Board decision and the sudden shifts in the federal government’s support for the University’s missions of research and education, the University has decided not to enter into a private election agreement. Typically, seeking to unionize is done by filing a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), a federal agency that would conduct a secret ballot election to determine if a majority of graduate students wish to be represented by a union. This is the same process that each of the several groups of unionized employees on our campus used to be recognized. While the University would prefer that the students decide against participating in the strike, there will be no reprisals or retaliation against those who lawfully participate in the strike.