Petition filed to form collective bargaining unit representing Emory PhD students

Aug. 30, 2023

Media Contact

Laura Diamond

Emory was recently notified that Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, has filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) to form a collective bargaining unit on behalf of all Emory PhD students. Following processes outlined in the National Labor Relations Act, the NLRB may hold an election this fall to allow students to vote on whether to form a union.

Emory has created a PhD Student Unionization FAQs webpage to provide more information about the unionization process and its potential effects on current and future Emory PhD students. The page will be updated as new information becomes available.

On Tuesday afternoon, Provost Ravi V. Bellamkonda sent the following message to Emory PhD students regarding this process:

Dear Emory PhD students,

As you may be aware, Emory was recently notified that Workers United, an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union, filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking an election to determine whether our PhD students wish to be represented by a union. In our roles as academics at a leading research university, our work is rooted in collaboration and respect. It is incumbent upon us to live these values daily, particularly when we navigate issues where our perspectives may differ. It is with this sentiment in mind that I write today to provide you with resources regarding this unionization effort.

Whether you have participated in this process to date or not, and regardless of your interest in engaging in a unionization effort, you and future cohorts of Emory PhD students will be affected by the outcome of the vote. Our PhD Student Unionization FAQs webpage contains information about the unionization process and its effect on current and future Emory PhD students. We will update this page as new information becomes available. I encourage you to review this resource as a first step in answering any questions you have about this process.

Along with other leaders across Emory, I value the work we have done with you and Laney Graduate School student organizations over the past several years to create an educational experience that enables you and your scholarship to flourish. We honor and respect Emory students’ right to engage in dialogue about union representation and will continue working with you going forward. Most importantly, we encourage you to make your voice heard on this important issue by voting when that time comes.

I wish you all a good start to the fall semester and look forward to all our community will accomplish together in the year ahead.

Ravi V. Bellamkonda

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs

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