ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Graduate student workers at the University of Rochester will begin their strike on Monday. They’re calling on university leaders to grant them a private election agreement to vote on whether to unionize.

According to the UR Graduate Labor Union, a private election agreement is students’ only viable option to unionize. If the university doesn’t agree to hold an election, union organizers would need to ask the National Labor Relations Board for one.

Organizers say a Trump-era NLRB would be unlikely to grant an election agreement because, during President Trump’s first term, he sought to exclude student workers from unionizing. If Trump fills the three vacant positions on the five-member NLRB, it would have a conservative majority.

The picket line will take place on Elmwood Avenue near the intersection of Wilson Boulevard. Student workers are hoping to unionize to push for higher stipend payments, better health benefits, and parental support.

They say a union is critical now as the Trump administration cuts research funding, dismantles DEI programs, and revokes the visas of some international students. International students make up half of the UR graduate student workforce. Back in March, the student workers voted 90% in favor of striking.

The university says entering a private election agreement would be unprecedented for the campus and not in the university’s best interest. According to UR administration, all current unions on campus became official after asking the NLRB for an election, rather than asking the university directly.

University leaders say they met with a New York State mediator on Friday about the strike. Here is the university’s statement regarding the meeting:

“The University of Rochester met today with a mediator from the New York State Public Employment Relations Board (PERB) relating to the anticipated graduate student strike. The meeting did not result in any resolutions but provided a valuable opportunity to explore the issues with an experienced PERB representative. The University remains steadfast in our commitment to engage with students and to advance our educational and research mission. The University maintains that, given recent developments such as the Vanderbilt University v. National Labor Relations Board decision and changes in federal support for our research and education missions, entering into a private election agreement is not in the institution’s best interest. The students continue to have – and have always had – access to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) supervised election process for union representation, rather than engaging in a potentially disruptive strike.”

The university also released a statement Monday in regards to the start of the strike:

“While the University respects students and employees’ right to participate in a strike consistent with federal labor laws, it nevertheless strongly believes that such action taken by PhD students is neither in their best interest nor the most effective means of resolving the differences between the parties.  Contingency plans are in place to ensure minimal disruption to our academic mission— including teaching and research activities—during a strike. In the event of prolonged strike activity, University officials are confident that the academic enterprise will continue as normal without interruption.  PhD students are a vital part of our University community and, as such, we remain committed to ensuring their success. However, we are steadfast in the belief that entering into a private election agreement at this time is not in the best interests of the University community.”

Union organizers say the strike would involve a pause on teaching, grading, conducting experiments, writing grants, and attending seminars. The strike would look different for each department.