University of Rochester Graduate Students Launch Strike Over Unionization Push

Over 1,500 graduate workers at the University of Rochester began an indefinite strike today, citing months of delays and alleged obstruction by university leadership in their efforts to unionize.

Tensions have been building since January 30, 2025, when graduate students staged a campus protest demanding the university honor a union election agreement reached in December. Frustration has only deepened since then.

Graduate students at the University of Rochester staged a protest on campus January 30, 2025, voicing frustration over the university’s delay in finalizing a union election agreement reached in December.

The strike officially kicked off at 8:00 AM, with a rally scheduled for 1:00 PM at the intersection of Elmwood and Wilson on the University’s River Campus. Organizers expect a large turnout, including undergraduate students, faculty allies, labor leaders, and city officials.

Graduate workers—who play crucial roles in teaching, grading, research, and lab operations—are seeking to unionize under SEIU Local 200United. According to organizers, 90% of participating workers voted to authorize the strike after talks with university administrators broke down.

In a last-minute effort to avoid a strike, graduate union leaders traveled to Syracuse on Friday for mediation talks with university officials. However, they report that the university refused to meet face-to-face, a move that only escalated the conflict.

"The administration’s refusal to negotiate in good faith left us no choice," said one graduate worker. "We are the backbone of this institution, and we deserve a voice."

Support for the strike has surged across campus and beyond. Faculty members have pledged not to cross picket lines, and the university’s Student Association has formally endorsed the walkout. Many undergraduates plan to join the strike in solidarity. Major labor groups, including the Teamsters and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP), have also publicly backed the graduate workers.

The action at Rochester reflects a broader national trend, as graduate and academic workers across the country mobilize around issues like research funding, diversity initiatives, and protections for international students.

Picketing is expected to continue throughout the week, with organizers encouraging media outlets to cover the events and speak directly with workers on the ground.

As of this morning, the University of Rochester administration had not issued any official statement regarding a return to negotiations.