Emory University and Graduate Student Union Reach Landmark Labor Agreement

Emory University's graduate student union, EmoryUnite!, has ratified its inaugural labor contract with the university, marking a significant milestone in labor relations within higher education. The agreement, effective immediately and extending through August 24, 2027, introduces substantial enhancements in compensation, benefits, and working conditions for Ph.D. students in the Laney Graduate School.

The contract establishes a minimum annual stipend of $42,000, a notable increase from the previous $36,000 as of Spring 2024. Additionally, it introduces funding pools to assist with childcare, dependent care, international activities, medical needs, financial hardships, and medical insurance for students on leave. Health insurance improvements include lowering out-of-pocket maximums by $1,500. The agreement also ensures remote work contingencies for disabled and chronically ill student-workers, as well as international students unable to return to the U.S.

EmoryUnite! is the sole organized labor group at Emory University, representing Ph.D. student-workers in the Laney Graduate School. The union officially formed as a voluntary-join organization in 2016, following a National Labor Relations Board ruling that graduate students at private universities are employees with the right to collective bargaining. In November 2023, the student-workers overwhelmingly agreed to join Workers United, part of the Service Employees International Union.

The ratified contract is the culmination of more than 30 bargaining sessions and extensive organizing efforts over two years. Union co-chair Tasfia Jahangir, a Ph.D. student in behavioral, social, and health education sciences, emphasized the importance of continued mobilization, especially in light of recent cuts to diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and reduced protections for students.

In a press release, interim Provost Lanny S. Liebeskind and Kimberly Jacob Arriola, the dean of the Laney Graduate School, expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stating they are "pleased to have reached an agreement that reflects a shared commitment to top-quality graduate education and an Emory experience that fosters success."

The successful ratification of this contract signifies a notable advancement in labor relations within higher education, particularly in the Southern United States, where union representation has traditionally been lower. In 2024, only 3.8% of wage and salary workers in Georgia were union members, compared to the national average of 9.9%. This development may inspire similar unionization efforts among graduate student-workers at other institutions in the region.

Emory University, founded in 1836, has a complex history, including periods of segregation and significant financial challenges post-Civil War. The university has evolved over the years, becoming coeducational in 1953 and officially integrating racially in 1963. The recent unionization efforts and contract ratification represent a continued progression toward inclusivity and equitable treatment within the university community.

The ratification of EmoryUnite!'s first labor contract marks a significant milestone in the university's history and reflects broader trends in labor relations within higher education. This development underscores the growing influence of graduate student unions and their potential to effect meaningful change in academic institutions.