Transforming Higher Education

Movement Milestones and Victories

We’re working to improve learning and teaching conditions and access to higher education, while standing up to end the trend toward a low-road, corporate-business model for education. More than 50,000 faculty and graduate workers are already united through SEIU Faculty Forward. Every day more educators, students and community members across the country are joining our fight to transform higher education. Here’s a look at what we’ve accomplished together so far.

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Washington University Graduate Workers win year-round funding

Graduate workers at Washington University secured a major win, guaranteed year-round funding! This is the latest in a series of improvements the Washington University Graduate Workers Union (WUGWU) have achieved through collective actions.


“When we started organizing, our health insurance was terrible, and barely met the requirements of the Affordable Care Act. We also didn’t have employer-paid dental insurance,” said JB Duck-Mayr, graduate worker and WUGWU Organizing Committee Member. “But by coming together, we’ve already won dental coverage and some improvements in our health plan. This semester we pushed the administration to guarantee summer pay. On Wednesday, the dean of our graduate school announced that administration would guarantee an eleventh month of pay (up from 10). Our campaign is working.”

Read more on SEIU Local 1.