Posts tagged University of Michigan
Commentary: Will Unions Stick with Democrats in Michigan?
May 3, 2026 // In a crowd of over 7,000 delegates, labor looked small and concentrated, occupying a wing just off the main convention hall through much of the proceedings. The UAW claimed that its delegation made up more than 10 percent of the assembled group at the convention—more than 700 people—but even by the union’s own numbers, this constitutes an admission of shrinking influence. Its members lacked the presence of mind or cohesion to counter the booing directed at Acker and Representative Haley Stevens. This hard-left shift is forcing traditional Michigan unions to choose between their historic affinity for the Democratic Party or a new, more moderate option. Many traditional unions, including 24 locals, along with several prominent pro-union Democrats and one former Michigan AFL-CIO president, have already defected to former Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan’s independent gubernatorial campaign.
University of Michigan Graduate Student Researchers Vote to Join Union
April 2, 2026 // Over 2,200 graduate student research assistants join the Graduate Employees Organization Local 3550 of the American Federation of Teachers.
Labor Watch: St. John’s Axes Unions, CSU Strike Pays Off
March 5, 2026 // St. John’s is the second institution to use a religious exemption to shutter its union this academic year; in the fall, the Loyola Marymount University Board of Trustees announced it would no longer recognize its non-tenure-track faculty union and cease bargaining.
U-M graduate student research assistants seek to unionize
November 3, 2025 // Ahead of the rally, over 1,500 graduate student research assistants have signed unionization cards. They need a few hundred more to sign up to reach the mandated 30% to set a union vote.
U-M threatened pro-Palestinian students, union alleges
June 19, 2025 // On April 21, 2024, the Graduate Employees’ Organization filed a class action grievance against U-M. It accused then-President Santa Ono of “threatening students” by stating that U-M “will not shy away from protecting the values we hold dear. Those who participate in disruptive activity will be held accountable.” The GEO criticized the U-M administration for having “contributed to a climate of hostility, harassment, and repression on Palestine-related issues for members of the bargaining unit.” More than 100 undergraduate students, graduate students, staff, alumni, and others signed the document with redacted names. CapCon obtained the documents through a records request. The student union demanded that the university tell all staff members in written communication that there is an ongoing genocide in Palestine. It also said the university must acknowledge the right of graduate student instructors to engage in pro-Palestine speech in the classroom. The university, it added, needed to ”recognize that pro-Palestine speech is legitimate."
Service Employees International Union workers reach tentative agreement with University of Michigan Health
October 15, 2024 // SEIU Healthcare Michigan agreed to a three-year deal with U-M Health ahead of a potential work stoppage planned for Tuesday (Oct. 15), which has now been canceled. SEIU represents about 2,700 respiratory therapists, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) specialists, phlebotomists, patient care technicians, inpatient unit clerks, and clerical staff who work for the clinical operation of Michigan Medicine, University of Michigan Health. The agreement was a first for the newly formed collective bargaining unit.
Michigan RAs overwhelmingly vote in favor of unionizing
September 12, 2024 // The RAO had posted multiple messages on its Instagram account going back to December, urging residence assistants at the university to unionize. In one post found on the group’s account, the RAO cited specific reasons that students must unionize as a result of poor “communication” with university housing leadership, receive “40% of the campus minimum wage”, and RAs’ “lack formal harassment protections.”
BU grad workers vote to strike Monday
March 22, 2024 // The Boston University graduate workers union voted Wednesday to go on strike Monday afternoon if they do not reach a contract agreement with the university. The union, which represents roughly 3,000 graduate student workers at BU, voted last week to authorize the strike after a longstanding battle with the university over fair pay and stronger benefits, including health care coverage and child care assistance.
Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh suggests college athletes unionize after championship win
January 12, 2024 // “For a long time, people say that unionizing would be bad,” Harbaugh said. “If people aren’t gonna do it, if they’re not gonna do it out of their own goodwill, and do what’s right, I mean, that’s probably the next step.” Debate continues over how college football and other sports should handle players’ recent ability to monetize their name, image and likeness (NIL). Lawmakers have generally agreed that new NIL reforms and regulations are needed, but they so far have not come together on what that should look like.
UM medical assistants and behavioral health workers unionize
December 23, 2023 // An additional 1,300 healthcare employees at Michigan Medicine have joined a union for health professionals. The United Michigan Medicine Allied Professionals (UMMAP), American Federation of Teachers (AFT) Local 6739 now represents 600 behavioral health workers and 700 medical assistants at Michigan Medicine.