How did we get here?
Why are we going on strike?
We have been bargaining with the university administration for a new contract since April 28th, 2025–nearly an entire year. We have been working without a new contract since August of 2025. Throughout this process the university administration has made it clear that they are unwilling to offer proposals that meet the needs of our graduate workers on their own. As they have told us at the table: “we are not interested in expanding your rights” and “To think you are going to be paid to cover all your bills is unrealistic.”
If we are going to win a living wage, better health care benefits, protections for international workers, and improved job security we are going to need to withhold our labor and put an end to business-as-usual operations at UIC.
Who decided we’re going on strike?
Our members did! We held a strike authorization vote April 8th-11th, and a majority of members cast their vote. 91% of those members said yes, they wanted to authorize a strike!
What are the issues that we’re striking over?
The main demands that have become our strike issues are a living wage, improved healthcare benefits and cost, better job security in our appointment terms and conditions, and protections for international workers. These have been our most significant issues since we surveyed members in 2024 and continued to be so when we polled members again at our Special Membership Meeting in February. For an updated list of our exact proposals and where they are at on the table, check our history spreadsheet here.
What will this look like?
Who can go on strike?
Anyone in our bargaining unit is protected if they go on strike, including non-dues paying members and international workers. Our strike is a legal labor action that is protected by state law, so no worker in our unit can be denied their right to strike if they choose to do so. Retaliation for striking is against the law when it is done against any member of our bargaining unit, and will be fought as aggressively as we and our parent unions can muster with our legal and organizing resources.
Who our bargaining unit includes: any teaching, research, or graduate assistant with an appointment contract from UIC between 25-67% full-time equivalency (FTE); all post-baccs, and all visiting teaching associates.
Who our bargaining unit does not include: Research fellows, anyone with a 0% FTE, post-docs, people who are hired outside of UIC to do research work, graduate hourly workers.
What will a strike look like for TAs and Instructors of Record?
Refusing to teach your course, discussion section, lab, or seminar.
Refusing to grade and/or enter grades.
Refusing to do preparatory work before the strike, i.e. grading everything ahead of the strike.
Not holding office/drop-in hours.
Not responding to work-related emails.
If you teach an asynchronous course, taking down available content and not uploading new course content.
What will a strike look like for RAs?
Refusing to train others on how to complete the work that you do for your lab or project.
Refusing to do work around key deadlines and decision points (i.e. calling out sick as a lab when an order needs to be picked up, refusing to put grant materials together ahead of a deadline).
Refusing to order supplies needed for lab operations.
Refusing to attend departmental seminars as a worker.
Taking strategized solidarity breaks with your coworkers.
Dedicate some part of your day, together with other colleagues to take a break from your work. Maybe attend a rally nearby. Gather with other people who strike.
What will a strike look like for GAs?
Refusing to execute your daily administrative tasks, respond to contacts, or do other work that makes the work of our managers easier.
Refuse to do work or call out sick on days where your presence is especially key for the flow of tasks at work (i.e. departmental events, orientations, meetings)
Can or should I go to my classes?
Graduate workers are protected from withholding their labor, but not from missing classes they are enrolled in, and faculty are prohibited from staging any kind of “sympathy strike” with us. However, faculty may choose to move their classes, either to another location, the picket line itself, or online. United Faculty has communicated those options to their members, but grads are welcome to ask supportive faculty about any of these options.
How long will we be on strike?
It is ultimately up to our members how long our strike will last, so there is no set time for when it will end or for how long we’ll be out. We will check in with our members regularly both at the picket line and at our weekly Strike Huddles. You can find the date and location for these huddles on our union calendar!
How can I help?
How can I help?
The number one thing you can do is withhold your labor! We also will need folks to show up at our daily picket line, and sign up to be strike captains. Strike captains are an essential role that helps keep departments up to date and organized, turn folks out to pickets, and communicate key updates about demands and the university’s counter-strike actions. You can sign up to be a strike captain here! Not ready to be a strike captain? That's okay! Please sign up for a shift on the picket line for next week instead.
I want to support the strike, but I’m scared of retaliation. What should I do? What protections do I have?
For those in our unit, striking is a legally protected behavior, and you should not face retaliation like non-renewal, discipline, or dismissal based on participating in the strike.
If a PI or lead instructor is implying they would retaliate against you for striking, or discouraging you from striking, please carefully document and record these incidents. If you receive these comments verbally, try to get them repeated in writing. Forward these records of threatened or real retaliation to geo@uicgeo.org. We have legal resources to help you in the case that you are retaliated against. Bargaining unit members should assess their own risk when it comes to withholding labor, but know they are protected. There is much more safety in numbers! If you are interested in understanding other ways of supporting our strike and demands, please email our chief stewards at chiefsteward@uicgeo.org.