The UAW Higher Education Department represents over 100,000 higher education workers at over 50 public and private institutions across the United States. Our members include Staff, Faculty, Student Workers, Researchers and Postdocs, and tens of thousands of additional workers are organizing. We research, teach, grade, do grounds work and repairs, and mentor hundreds of thousands of undergraduates.
The Higher Education Department serves as a home base for UAW members who work primarily at universities and research institutions. The department came into being in 2024, after years of worker-led organizing. The department supports higher education organizing and members who, together, are lifting industry standards with every contract and standing up for the jobs, rights, and security of workers everywhere.
Raising Standards Through Union Contracts
Postdocs
- Postdocs at NIH (UAW 2750), the first unit of federal employees in the UAW, can use at least 10% of their work time for professional development, and have guaranteed 30 days of vacation and 12 weeks of paid parental leave. They also won a commitment from NIH to standardize base pay across institutes and centers, improving the wages of post docs across the country.
- Following a 12-day strike by postdocs at Mt. Sinai (UAW 4100), members won the first ever contract article guaranteeing postdoc housing for three years.
Staff
- Custodians, food service workers, and other staff at Cornell University (UAW Local 2300) won wage increases of 21% – 25.4% and the first COLA in higher education by rejecting the secretive black-out bargaining that management requested and making sure that members were informed and engaged in the bargaining process and pressure campaign.
- Student Health Employees New School (UAW 7902) won student loan repayment assistance from the employer, up to $3,000 per year in non-taxed contributions to any student loan incurred by the employee for their own education.
Student Workers
- Academic student workers at the University of Washington (UAW 4121) won disability and pregnancy accommodations, including ergonomics; as well as paid time off to attend immigration appointments.
- Academic student employees in the University of California system (UAW 4811) won 8 weeks of fully-paid parental leave for birthing and non-birthing parents alike. They also won strong protections against abusive conduct and bullying, with worker-centered protections and interim measures.
- New School student workers (UAW 7902) enshrined reproductive and gender affirming healthcare in their contract, ensuring these life-saving medical procedures will continue to be available to student workers if their insurance policy pulls coverage.
Faculty
- NYU adjunct faculty (UAW 7902) won pay raises of 34% in the first year of their contract, raising compensation to $10,400 per class, including pay for additional work performed outside of the classroom (lesson prep, grading, office hours, etc.). They also won pay equity between studio and seminar course-types.
- Whereas many adjunct and contingent faculty are hired on a per course basis, the part-time faculty union at The New School (UAW 7902) won job security up to 6-year appointments, which are renewable.
