On February 9th, 2022 Fordham’s Graduate Student Association (GSA), composed of representatives from each degree-granting department, voted to endorse our union. The GSA sent an endorsement letter to the student body and administrators on February 14th. Read the full text of the letter below:

Under the Graduate Student Association’s Constitution, the GSA Council is tasked to serve as stewards for the interests of GSAS graduate students to the wider University community through voting measures and resolutions. On February 9, 2022, the Council, composed of representatives from each degree granting program within GSAS, was presented with the following:

A RESOLUTION TO endorse the Fordham Graduate Student Workers (FGSW) unioniza- tion process and the right to unionize as a good and necessary measure to pursue justice for graduate students.

WHEREAS the Council, a collective representative body, is acutely aware of widespread needs and concerns of graduate students. The resolution above is based on the Council’s understanding that a significant portion of the GSAS student body seeks a means to improve their livelihoods commensurate with the work they perform.

WHEREAS the Council recognizes that this vote is not a vote, or has any direct bearing, on whether or not the GSAS student body does or does not unionize, which will be determined by votes from individual graduate students. It is the Council’s understanding that FGSW is committed to a plan that involves speaking with every single GSAS graduate student employee at Fordham and seeks to ensure that they hear all grievances and concerns so that the work ahead carefully addresses them.

WHEREAS the FGSW has expressed their commitment to approach the GSAS student body with full thoroughness and transparency of the unionization process since it will affect every graduate student in the university in some way. Additionally, a clear and public commitment to racial justice, international students, and undocumented and immigrant students will be at the forefront of the Council’s collaboration with FGSW leadership.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the Graduate Student Association, through its designated representatives from each degree granting program within GSAS, votes YES to endorse the unionization effort by FGSW. The Council’s vote to endorse demonstrates the extent of GSAS graduate student solidarity in this effort by which FGSW seeks to improve lives and working conditions.

The Council urges the GSAS student body, in their journey to arrive at their own individual opinion, to employ critical thinking and seek informed discourse about the topic of graduate student unionization, which was lionized in 2016 by the National Labor Relations Board’s ruling that “students who work as teaching and research assistants at private universities have a federally backed right to unionize”.

Further, the Council urges the larger University administration to, in the event of a vote to unionize by the GSAS student body, voluntarily recognize and bargain in good faith with all Fordham University GSAS graduate student workers who have demonstrated their will to be represented by the union. In doing so, the Council directly references the tenet within Catholic theology that affirms the rights of workers to organize.

Respectfully submitted and passed by the Graduate Student Association on February 14, 2022.

Ryan Sullivan

GSA President

Mardoqueo (Marc) Arteaga

GSP Vice President [Author]