In recent years, higher education institutions across the United States have been facing a labor crisis. From adjunct professors struggling to make ends meet on low wages to graduate students being overworked and underpaid, the challenges facing those who work in academia are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

One response to these challenges has been the rise of unionizing efforts among university faculty and staff. In recent years, more and more higher education workers have been organizing to secure better pay, benefits, and working conditions.

One of the main reasons for the increase in unionizing efforts is the growing reliance on contingent labor in higher education. Adjunct professors, who are hired on a part-time or temporary basis, now make up a significant portion of the higher education workforce. These contingent faculty members often lack job security, benefits, and fair wages. The rise of the gig economy and the increasing corporatization of higher education have only exacerbated these challenges.

In response, adjunct professors and graduate students have been joining together to form unions and advocate for better working conditions. These efforts have been met with mixed reactions from university administrations, with some institutions resisting unionization efforts and others agreeing to negotiate with the newly formed unions.

One example of successful unionizing efforts in higher education is the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) at the University of Michigan. The GEO, which represents graduate student instructors and staff at the university, has successfully negotiated for improved wages, benefits, and working conditions for its members.

Despite these successes, there are still many challenges facing unionizing efforts in higher education. Some universities have pushed back against unionization, arguing that it could disrupt the traditional academic model or harm the institution’s financial stability. Additionally, some contingent faculty members may be hesitant to join a union for fear of retaliation from their employers.

However, the benefits of unionizing efforts in higher education are clear. By joining together to advocate for fair wages, benefits, and working conditions, university faculty and staff can ensure that they are able to focus on their important work of educating students without having to worry about financial insecurity. As the labor crisis in higher education continues to grow, unionizing efforts are becoming an increasingly important tool for securing a better future for all university workers.