More than a year ago, Cornell Graduate Students United — an organization that fights for the rights of university-educated workers — unionized below United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America after 96 percent of college voters approved the formation of a union. This year, CGSU negotiated its first contract to secure protections that ensure better working conditions for graduate students.

This academic year, CGSU’s main priority for its contract is to receive discipline processes that respect the Seven principles of just cause. These seven principles ensure that workers cannot be disciplined or dismissed without “just cause” – which includes fair notice of violations of standards, an interview before imposing disciplinary measures, and equal treatment between employees. workers. Other demands include higher wages, health care, dental and vision insurance.

The CGSU is also fighting for a union shop in their contract. A union shop is a workplace where all employees must join a union. By authorizing a union workshop, the union will democratically represent all graduate students. This would make it easier for workers to unionize because they would not need to self-select into union membership, an action that could result in retaliation from their advisor.