Dates for voting on a graduate assistant union at the University of Minnesota were released Thursday by the state’s Bureau of Mediation Services.
After four months of collecting signatures on campus, the Graduate Student Workers United and United Auto Workers organizers have made progress in their attempt to unionize. Voting will take place the week of March 19.
All graduate assistants will be eligible to vote in the election, regardless of whether they signed on to the union. An election only requires the majority of those who vote to pass the measure.
“We fully expect to win the election for the union,” said Scott Thaller, a representative of GSWU/UAW.
To make it to this step, 30 percent of approximately 4,500 graduate assistants had to sign union authorization cards.
If the vote passes, then the union will be certified, which will allow graduate student workers to bargain with the University when dealing with terms and conditions.
Graduate assistants are invited to attend a discussion about unionization moderated by Rev. David Smith, professor emeritus of theology at the University of St. Thomas.
The discussion, “Diverse Perspectives on Unionization,” will be held at 5 p.m. on Wednesday in the Bell Museum.
Voting will be open from 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. at all locations.
Election dates and locations:
March 19: Moos Tower 1-425, directly beneath Java City
March 20: Vincent Hall, Room 120
March 21: Nolte Hall, Room 120 Study Lounge
March 22: Blegen Hall, Room 155
Friday March 23:
St. Paul — St Paul Student Center, Room 110
Duluth — Kirby Student Center, Kirby Garden Room
In addition, graduate assistants are invited to attend a discussion about unionization moderated by Rev. David Smith, a professor emeritus of theology at St. Thomas University.
The discussion, “Diverse Perspectives on Unionization,” will be held in the Bell Museum at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.