Twin Cities Chapter
Statement of Support for UMN Graduate Labor Union

Statement of Support for UMN Graduate Labor Union (GLU), Feb 23 2023

The University of Minnesota-Twin Cities chapter of the American Association of University Professors welcomes and supports the organizing efforts of the University of Minnesota Graduate Labor Union. As faculty, we recognize the crucial role of graduate student labor to our departments, to our own research efforts, and to the production and dissemination of knowledge at the University. Given their vital contributions to the intellectual and pedagogical missions of our University, graduate students deserve better working conditions, a living wage, and a seat at the table. During past unionization efforts, the UMN administration has hired anti-union consultants and cynically deployed divisive tactics to undermine organizing efforts. The choice of whether to join a union is one that graduate students should make without external interference. We therefore call on the administration to not interfere with the union campaign or threaten union supporters.

Sincerely,
Sumanth Gopinath, President, AAUP-UMTC
Heather Holcombe, Vice President, AAUP-UMTC
Teri Caraway, Treasurer, AAUP-UMTC
Gopalan Nadathur, Secretary, AAUP-UMTC
Nathaniel Mills, Member-at-Large, AAUP-UMTC
Ruth Shaw, Member-at-Large, AAUP-UMTC