UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Graduate assistants across multiple Penn State campuses will soon vote in a unionization election, following an order issued by the Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB).
“The University deeply values the contributions of our graduate students,” said Penn State Executive Vice President and Provost Fotis Sotiropoulos. “We also believe graduate students are students, first and foremost, at Penn State to pursue an advanced education and research training. The institution remains committed to supporting the academic journey, professional growth, and well-being of students who are integral to the University’s scholarly mission.”
Graduate assistants are encouraged to review the Graduate Student Union FAQs on Penn State’s Grad Facts website for comprehensive details about the election process, eligibility, and what unionization could mean.
Voting will take place both in person and by mail for graduate assistants:
- University Park: In-person voting will occur on Monday, Oct. 27; Tuesday, Oct. 28; and Wednesday, Oct. 29, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Dewey Room (W043), Pattee & Paterno Libraries.
- College of Medicine: In-person voting will occur in Hershey on Tuesday, Oct. 21, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in rooms 302B and 302C, University Conference Center.
- Behrend, Harrisburg, and Great Valley: Mail-in ballots will be mailed on Wednesday, Oct. 15. Those who do not receive a ballot by 5 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 23, should contact the PLRB at 717-787-1091. Ballots must be returned to and received by the PLRB in its Harrisburg office by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 12.
The PLRB has authorized the election to determine whether a majority of eligible graduate assistants support union representation. The election follows a petition filed by graduate assistants seeking to be recognized as employees with the right to collectively negotiate employment terms such as wages, benefits and working conditions.
The election outcome will be decided by a simple majority of those who cast votes. For example, if only 100 people vote and 51 vote in favor of the union, the union would win the election and all teaching assistants, research assistants and administrative support assistants at Penn State would be represented by the union and bound by any collective bargaining agreement. To ensure the election reflects the desire of the entire body of graduate assistants, the University strongly urges all eligible voters to participate in the election. Voting is conducted by ballot and there is no identifying information on the ballot. Only an individual voter will know how they voted.
Once certified, a union will always be the exclusive representative of graduate assistants, unless it is decertified, which is rare. Students would not be able to opt out of contractual limitations, and the University would be bound to observe them.
The implications of unionization can be complex. Some institutions that have experienced unionization have seen an impact on flexibility and the number of opportunities for graduate students. With a union, for example, the University would not be permitted to deal directly with students in areas that are subject to collective bargaining (i.e., changes in individual stipends and benefits to recruit and retain top students).
The University’s existing framework supports the institution’s primary mission of fostering academic success and professional growth. Stipends, health coverage, academic resources, and wellness services are provided to graduate assistants — without the cost of union dues or fees or the potential loss of flexibility — as part of comprehensive funding packages that enable students to focus on their academic and research pursuits.
These packages include tuition remission, a monthly stipend and a subsidy that covers 80% of health insurance costs for graduate assistants and at least 70% for dependents. The total economic value of half-time, 20-hour-per-week graduate assistantships ranges from $63,409.63 to $73,210.63 for individuals, and $73,878.55 to $83,679.55 for graduate assistants receiving family insurance coverage. Additional information on graduate assistantship benefits can be found on the Fox Graduate School’s website.
"We recognize the decision to unionize is a personal one,” said Sotiropoulos. “The impact of this election will be significant, and we urge all graduate assistants to educate themselves on the implications and, importantly, to vote.”
For additional questions, graduate assistants may contact the PLRB or email gradinfo@psu.edu.