Graduate student research assistants at the University of Michigan have voted to join the Graduate Employees’ Organization union.

The Michigan Employment Relations Commission conducted the election, which concluded March 26. Of the 1,910 ballots sent to GSRAs, 299 voted yes and 25 voted no, with six spoiled ballots. Of eligible voters, 17% cast ballots.  

As a result of the vote, GRSAs will be included in the GEO bargaining unit. U-M and GEO are currently in the process of negotiating a successor collective bargaining agreement. Negotiations updates are available on the University Human Resources website. Members of the university community can sign up for periodic email updates on bargaining (U-M sign-in required).

“We value our relationship with the graduate researchers and the important work they do for our university,” said Alexandra Matish, associate vice provost and senior director of Academic Human Resources. “The University of Michigan recognizes and supports the fundamental right of its employees to seek union representation and to bargain collectively.”

In December, GEO filed an accretion petition before Michigan Employment Relations Commission to add GSRAs to its bargaining unit. The vote took place through mail-in ballots between March 9 and March 25.