This is an archive of emails sent to sgwu-announce, a mailing list for all grad workers at Stanford.

2025-12-10: Union Social 12/11/25

Union happy hour Thursday, 5pm at the EVGR B/C lawn!


Hello Stanford Graduate Workers!

Thursday 12/11 at 5PM, we will once again be hosting a union happy hour in the lawn between EVGR B and C (pizza & ENABS provided)🍹🍕. Please stop by to celebrate the end of the Fall Quarter!!!!!

-Membership Building Committee (MBC) Social Planning Team



2025-12-02: November Newsletter

NOV 2025 Newsletter - CBA Misinformation, Vacation Time and Contract Rights, No Dec. GMM, Grievances, Taking Time Off and more!


NOV 2025 AT A GLANCE

STANFORD GRADUATE WORKERS UNION • Nov 30, 2025

Black line.

This month, SGWU focused on strengthening our organizing power and defending our contract. Our stewards successfully resolved several grievances, including cases involving improper pay and threats of dismissal tied to advisor-matching. We also hosted our first-ever Steward Leadership School, bringing together nearly 45 stewards and prospective stewards for organizer training, and held a Contract Anniversary Teach-In where workers shared experiences with workload pressures, matching challenges, and funding concerns, reinforcing the urgency of strong contract enforcement and organizing.

📢 Announcements

🔴 CBA Misinformation

🟡 Vacation Time and Contract Rights

🟣 No December GMM

🧑‍⚖️ General Membership Meeting Recap

☑️ Passed by members

👥 New stewards

🙋 Raise an issue

📜 Know Your Contract Benefits

💡 How to take time off

🏆 Grievances

🔆 Member Spotlight

💸 Financial Resources

🏡 Standing Committee Updates

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Membership Building

🖥️ Data + Tech

🎥 Communications

📅 Mark your calendar!

👊 About us

Local Executive Board

Standing Committees

Get in touch

📢 Announcements

🔴 CBA Misinformation

We have received reports that departments are blaming pay cuts and reduced hours on “union-related” policies. As a reminder, nothing precludes a department from providing compensation above what is in the CBA (Article 21) or giving a worker more hours if they want. Furthermore, the CBA does not apply to non-bargaining unit positions, most commonly administrative work. Please report any misinformation about the CBA to contact@sgwu.us

🟡 Vacation Time and Contract Rights

During the December holiday season, Graduate Workers can take paid personal time off as long as they coordinate with their supervisor, ideally at least three weeks in advance, and the request cannot be unreasonably denied. Personal time off is meant for vacation and does not reduce your pay. You also retain access to your 40 hours of paid sick time for any illness during this period.

🟣 No December GMM

At our previous GMM, we voted to skip the December GMM as most workers will be on vacation. Happy holidays, and see you all in the new year!

🧑‍⚖️ General Membership Meeting Recap

At our November GMM, our trustees presented their 2025 Q3 audit of the union finances, which were in good order. We also elected new stewards and labor council delegates to strengthen our union and ties to other labor organizations in the area. Finally, we had thoughtful discussion on important ongoing fights for the next contract, such as inclusion of legal assistants, the funding guarantee, and more!

☑️ Passed by members

We passed our Labor Council Delegate Nomination Procedure and elected Francisco Barrera (MSCE) and Ben Alexander (Sciences) as our inaugural delegates. They will represent SGWU’s interests in the South Bay and San Mateo AFL-CIO Labor Councils.
We also signed an open letter to reinstate gender-affirming care at Stanford Med

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 Stanford Medicine Must Reinstate Access to All Forms of Gender-Affirming Care

👥 New stewards

Please welcome our new stewards, Jordyn Smith (Sciences), David Wilkerson-Lindsey (Biosciences), Daniela Goodman Rabner (Humanities), Devesh Narayanan (MICE), Elena Corbae (Sciences)
If you’re interested in becoming a union steward and helping to enforce our contract, please attend a steward training.

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 Stewards Training RSVP

🙋 Raise an issue

At GMM, we had fruitful reflections on our recently held Steward Leadership School and our Contract Anniversary Teach-In.
All rank-and-file members are welcome to raise discussion topics for GMMs!

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 Submit Issues Here

—|—|—

📜 Know Your Contract Benefits

💡 How to take time off

During the December holiday season, Graduate Workers can take paid personal time off as long as they coordinate with their supervisor, ideally at least three weeks in advance, and the request cannot be unreasonably denied. Personal time off is meant for vacation and does not reduce your pay. You also retain access to your 40 hours of paid sick time for any illness during this period.

In addition to vacation and sick leave, our contract also provides 3 weeks of paid pregnancy leave and 2 weeks of paid parental leave (non-birth or adoptive parents).

🏆 Grievances

SGWU stewards have helped reinstate graduate workers and get properly paid for their work. Have a workplace issue to report? Email grievance@sgwu.us

  • We are supporting a grad worker who has been making good faith efforts to connect with potential advisors, but was unfairly told they may be dismissed from their program unless they match by January.

🔆 Member Spotlight

|
—|—
STEWARD LEADERSHIP SCHOOL
~45 stewards and prospective stewards gathered on November 9 for the first SGWU Steward Leadership School!
We heard from Valentina Luketa, UE National Coordinator for Higher Ed; Kara Zielinkski, former bargaining committee member for Cornell Grad Students United (UE 300); and Jodie Sheffels, educator and bargaining committee member for United Educators of SF
We also learned how to have organizing 1-1 conversations and discussed how we can grow the steward network in our areas| CONTRACT ANNIVERSARY RALLY TEACH-IN
On November 14, we held a successful teach-in about our contract rights and the funding guarantee!
We heard stories from grad workers who were being pushed out of their programs early, first-years who are struggling to match with an advisor, TAs and RAs who have seen increased workload expectations in the same number of hours, and more.
Workers also spoke about better protections for our international graduate workers, the importance of fellows inclusion and supporting mobility by bringing the GoPass back.

💸 Financial Resources

If you are facing financial hardship, our contract protects your right to get reimbursed for certain types of expenses via university resources.

  • Emergency Grant-in-Aid: out-of-pocket medical, mental, vision and dental care costs; bike repairs; computer repairs; legal expenses related to maintaining visa status

  • Graduate Student Aid Fund: spousal Cardinal Care insurance premiums; campus health fee and/or Cardinal Care premiums for students with significant debt burdens or required expenses beyond customary cost of attendance

  • Graduate Family Grant: flexible funds to cover childcare, healthcare and rent for students with dependents

If you’ve been denied for any of the above funding sources, please send us an email at contact@sgwu.us

🏡 Standing Committee Updates

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Membership Building

  • Organized event logistics for two big events this month: Steward Leadership School and our Contract Birthday Rally
  • Coordinated 1-on-1 conversations and listwork to encourage turn out for Steward Leadership School and the Contract Birthday Rally
  • Continued to process membership cards and enforcement of union dues

🖥️ Data + Tech

  • Improved our processes for handling worker lists provided by Stanford with incomplete contact information.
  • Deployed a Good Standing Check tool on sgwu.us.
  • Made connections with School of Education Data Science and Econometrics PhD workers interested in analyzing Stanford’s public data

🎥 Communications

  • Union updates: communicated important events and updates via listservs, Slack channels and social media
  • Events and campaigns: Supported MBC with flyers, call/text scripts and mass comms for contract rally-turned-teach in

—|—|—

📅 Mark your calendar!

Upcoming events, training sessions, workshops, GMMs… you name it

Event

Time

Location

Contact

Membership Building Committee Thursdays6–7pm Room 365, Green Earth Sciences or on Zoom organizing@sgwu.us
Data + Tech Committee Tuesdays 9-10am CoDA E203 recording@sgwu.us
Union Social Alternating Wednesdays5–6pm Between EVGR B and C organizing@sgwu.us
General Membership Meeting (GMM) Cancelled for December!    

👊 About us

Stanford Graduate Workers Union (United Electric Local 1043) represents graduate workers’ interests as university employees and negotiates collectively over employment conditions like pay, benefits, health and safety, and protections against harassment and discrimination. We believe that graduate workers at Stanford power the research and teaching integral to the University’s operations, reputation, and mission, and we deserve to have fair compensation and working conditions.

Local Executive Board

Our elected officers and Area Chief Stewards carry out decisions made by the membership in between General Membership Meetings, handle grievances, keep our union running, and respond to urgent situations. The local executive board is elected annually for a one-year term.

Standing Committees

Our three Standing Committees (Membership Building, Communications, Data and Technology) help run the day-to-day operations of our union. These Committees meet weekly and are open to all rank-and-file members.

Get in touch

We welcome questions, comments and feedback through our emails, website, or social media.

sgwu.us
contact@sgwu.us
@stanfordgwu.ue
@StanfordGWU
[sgwu-announce

@lists.stanford.edu](https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/sgwu-announce)

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2025-11-19: Next GMM on TOMORROW in Y2E2 111 at 6pm

Reminder - General Membership Meeting will be on Thursday, November 20th. Last meeting of the year! Come discuss the mail fee and package center.


Dear Graduate Workers,

A reminder that our General Membership Meeting will be on Thursday, November 20th in Y2E2 111 at 6pm. Please RSVP here so we can order enough food or to receive a Zoom link for remote attendance.

This is likely our last meeting of the year, so please bring all your questions and concerns! So far on our agenda:

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Trustee Elections!

  • Recap of the November 9th Steward Leadership School and our November 14th contract birthday teach-in

  • Member-run initiatives: mail fee and graduate package center updates, Stanford Alliance of Nonviolent Organizing, and the resolution to protect gender affirming care at Stanford Medicine

  • Anything else you want! Submit issues at sgwu.us/s/gmm-issues

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
General Membership Meeting Thurs, Nov 20 at 6pm Y2E2 111


2025-11-16: New Location 11/20 GMM + Contract Anniversary Rally

LOCATION AND TIME CHANGE - General Membership Meeting will be on November 20th in Y2E2 111 at 6pm.


Dear Graduate Workers,

LOCATION AND TIME CHANGE Our next General Membership Meeting will be on November 20th in Y2E2 111 at 6pm. Please RSVP here so we can order enough food or to receive a Zoom link for remote attendance.

On this month’s agenda, we have:

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Recap of the November 9th Steward Leadership School

  • Summary of our November 14th contract birthday teach-in

  • Member-run initiatives: mail fee and graduate package center updates, Stanford Alliance of Nonviolent Organizing, and the resolution to protect gender affirming care at Stanford Medicine

  • Anything else you want! Submit issues at sgwu.us/s/gmm-issues

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Nov 18 at 9am CoDA E203
General Membership Meeting Thurs, Nov 20 at 6pm Y2E2 111


2025-11-13: Rally Changed to Teach-in and Lunch @ 12 pm tomorrow!

Join us for a lunch + teach-in on our contract rights and the 5-year funding guarantee!


TL;DR: Join us for a lunch + teach-in on our contract rights and the 5-year funding guarantee! RSVP here and see you at noon tomorrow (11/14) by the Y2E2 Coupa Café.

Dear Graduate Workers,

Due to inclement weather, our contract anniversary rally will be changed to a teach-in + lunch with organizers on our contract rights and the 5-year funding guarantee, catered by Kali Greek Kitchen.

Join us on Friday, November 14th at NOON by the Y2E2 Coupa Café (Engineering Quad) to tell Stanford that we are not okay with their back-pedaling on the 5-year funding guarantee! When workers are being pressured out of their programs, or denied the gap funding that the 5 year guarantee is meant to provide, it is essential that we stand together and hold Stanford to their promise. RSVP here, and bring your friends + your lab!

In Solidarity,

SGWU

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2025-11-10: 5 Year Funding is in Jeopardy

Stanford is weakening the 5-Year Funding Guarantee. Rally with us Nov. 14 at NOON in the Engineering Quad to defend our funding.


TL; DR: Stanford is weakening the 5-Year Funding Guarantee. Rally with us Nov. 14 at NOON in the Engineering Quad to defend our funding. RSVP here! 📣

Dear Graduate Workers,

Stanford has promised graduate workers 5 years of funding time and time again. On their website, in our offer letters, and in a letter published along with the signing of our Union contract last year.

In the time since then, Stanford has been backpedaling. TA positions are being cut. Workers are being pressured out of their programs, or denied the gap funding that the 5 year guarantee is meant to provide. Especially in the current moment, it is essential that we stand together and hold Stanford to their promise.

Join us on November 14th at NOON in the Engineering Quad to show Stanford that we remember the 5 Year Funding Guarantee. Bring your friends and bring your lab. Together we will demand Stanford affirm and deliver on their promise to us. RSVP here!

In Solidarity,

SGWU



2025-11-07: 11/20 GMM - submit your issues!

General Membership Meeting November 20th - discuss grievances, steward elections, and the package and mail fee.


Dear Graduate Workers,

Our next General Membership Meeting will be on November 20th in EVGR C 134 Theater at 6pm. Please RSVP here so we can order enough food or to receive a Zoom link for remote attendance.

On this month’s agenda, we have:

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Recap of the November 9th Steward Leadership School (still forthcoming! RSVP here)

  • Summary of our November 14th contract birthday rally to defend 5-year funding (also still forthcoming! RSVP here)

  • Member-run initiatives: mail fee and graduate package center updates, Stanford Alliance of Nonviolent Organizing, and the resolution to protect gender affirming care at Stanford Medicine

  • Anything else you want! Submit issues at sgwu.us/s/gmm-issues

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
Steward Leadership School Sun, Nov 9, 10am - 2pm STLC 111
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Nov 11 at 9am CoDA E203
Membership Building Committee Thur, Nov 13 at 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365
Contract Anniversary Rally Fri, Nov 14 at 12pm Engineering Quad
General Membership Meeting Thurs, Nov 20 at 6pm EVGR C 134


2025-11-05: Union Social 11/6/25

Union happy hour tomorrow, 6PM!


Hello Stanford Graduate Workers!

Tomorrow 11/6 at 6PM , we will once again be hosting a union happy hour in the lawn between EVGR B and C (pizza & ENABS provided)🍹🍕. If you have time please stop by and maybe bring some left over Halloween candy if you got it 🎃🎃🎃🎃!!!

-Membership Building Committee (MBC) Social Planning Team



2025-11-04: October 2025 Newsletter

OCT 2025 Newsletter - Surveying academic censorship at Stanford; Rally to defend the 5-year funding guarantee; Mail updates; Grievance Wins


OCT 2025 AT A GLANCE

STANFORD GRADUATE WORKERS UNION • Oct 31, 2025

Black line.

This month, SGWU focused on several major initiatives. We called on Stanford to defend workers’ rights and academic freedom and organized around campus issues, including addressing violations of non-discrimination policy and fighting back against mail and package center fees. Additionally, steward elections were held to strengthen local representation, and members were invited to the upcoming Steward Leadership School to build organizing skills ahead of the next contract fight in 2027.

📢 Announcements

🔴 Surveying academic censorship at Stanford

🟡 Rally to defend the 5-year funding guarantee

🟣 Graduate housing mail updates

🧑‍⚖️ General Membership Meeting Recap

☑️ Passed by members

👥 New stewards

🙋 Raise an issue

📜 Graduate Housing Mail Updates

🏆 Grievance Wins

🔆 Member Spotlight

💸 Financial Resources

🏡 Standing Committee Updates

🖥️ Data + Tech

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Membership Building

🎥 Communications

📅 Mark your calendar!

👊 About us

Local Executive Board

Standing Committees

Get in touch

To unsubscribe, visit https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/sgwu-announce

📢 Announcements

🔴 Surveying academic censorship at Stanford

  • The Trump administration is using budget cuts to threaten universities that fail to align themselves with their ideological demands.

  • We have heard reports that Stanford admin, through the IRB and funding decisions, is pre-emptively doing Trump’s bidding, actively undermining researchers’ ability to engage in work that could be deemed “critical of the current administration.”

  • Please fill out this survey to report institutional constraints and self-censorship that have undermined academic freedom in recent months

🟡 Rally to defend the 5-year funding guarantee

  • November 14 marks 1 year that Stanford grad workers have had a contract!

  • But Stanford has already been steadily eroding our hard-fought gains, especially the five-year funding guarantee.

  • Join friends and labmates on Friday, November 14 @ 12 PM to tell Stanford they cannot abandon their promises! RSVP at sgwu.us/s/rally

🟣 Graduate housing mail updates

  • SGWU’s ghost box rally and no-mail-fee petition (which collected 700+ signatures!) brought Stanford to the table to discuss pressing issues with the new graduate housing package delivery system.

  • See our detailed updates in this newsletter below

  • The mail fee committee is continuing to meet with Stanford MPS and working with the Graduate Student Council on solving package delivery issues. Please email contact@sgwu.us to join the fight!

🧑‍⚖️ General Membership Meeting Recap

At our October GMM, we elected 9 new stewards and announced our upcoming Steward Leadership School to build organizing power. We also discussed ways to protect our work appointments, funding security and academic freedom in the context of budget cuts and ideological demands by the Trump administration. Finally, we provided updates on our successful ghost box rally and meeting with Stanford on the new package center for graduate housing.

☑️ Passed by members

SGWU adopted the UE Higher Ed Workers Over Deals statement, calling on universities to reject the Trump administration “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”, which asks universities to exchange autonomy for preferential funding.

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 UE Higher Ed locals call on universities to put workers over deals

👥 New stewards

Please welcome our new stewards, Jered Zhang (Sciences), Sacha Alanoca (Social Sciences), Rachel Broun (Social Sciences), Cole Tanigawa-Lau (Social Sciences), Jack Shane (Social Sciences), Kamila Thompson (MICE), Peter Cruz-Grace (MSCE), Theo Yang (MSCE), Luna Laliberte (BEL)
If you’re interested in becoming a union steward and helping to enforce our contract, please attend a steward training.

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 Stewards Training RSVP
🔗 Nov 9 Steward Leadership School

🙋 Raise an issue

At GMM, we provided updates on organizing efforts related to the new package center and mail fee. SGWU members went to the Graduate Student Council meeting and pressed Stanford admin on issues including groceries and rideshares being redirected, harm to our disabled community, and lost packages.
All rank-and-file members are welcome to raise discussion topics for GMMs!

MORE DETAILS:
🔗 Submit Issues Here

—|—|—

📜 Graduate Housing Mail Updates

  • Following widespread complaints about lost packages, accessibility barriers, and new package fees, the union called a rally that successfully pushed Stanford administrators to meet with SGWU members and accept the union’s petition.

  • As a result, LBRE agreed to implement a more transparent tracking system and admitted that the package fee was a deliberate policy decision by the provost to shift costs onto students.

  • Organizers also confronted administrators at the Graduate Student Council meeting about the harm to disabled grad workers and continued to monitor MPS/R&DE; meetings for further action.

  • The committee is now advising grad workers to submit tickets with tracking numbers for missing packages and to use USPS for important mail like passports or credit cards.

  • Please email contact@sgwu.us if you would like to join the fight and help hold Stanford accountable!

🏆 Grievance Wins

SGWU stewards have helped reinstate graduate workers and get properly paid for their work. Have a workplace issue to report? Email grievance@sgwu.us

  • We have learned of multiple graduate workers who are at risk of being dismissed from their program because they have not been able to find an advisor.

  • Reminder: it is Stanford policy (3.3.1 Academic Advising) for the department to “assist doctoral students who are not yet admitted to candidacy in finding an appropriate principal dissertation advisor, and dissertation co-advisor if appropriate”

🔆 Member Spotlight
SGWU members and alumni attend the No Kings 2 protests across the bay. SGWU organized ghost box rallies to continue the pressure on Stanford to fix the new graduate housing package delivery system.

💸 Financial Resources

If you are facing financial hardship, our contract protects your right to get reimbursed for certain types of expenses via university resources.

  • Emergency Grant-in-Aid: out-of-pocket medical, mental, vision and dental care costs; bike repairs; computer repairs; legal expenses related to maintaining visa status

  • Graduate Student Aid Fund: spousal Cardinal Care insurance premiums; campus health fee and/or Cardinal Care premiums for students with significant debt burdens or required expenses beyond customary cost of attendance

  • Graduate Family Grant: flexible funds to cover childcare, healthcare and rent for students with dependents

If you’ve been denied for any of the above funding sources, please send us an email at contact@sgwu.us

🏡 Standing Committee Updates

🖥️ Data + Tech

  • Database updates: Continued adding new workers; Stanford has continued to fail at providing an accurate fall BU list.
  • Set a regular meeting time: 9am Thursdays in CoDA E203 (stop by!)
  • Improved how SGWU manages emails to contact@sgwu.us

🫱🏾‍🫲🏼 Membership Building

  • We have been building the membership: About half of the provisional BU list not on cards have signed cards since last GMM, and the work is ongoing
  • Mail Fee Organizing: Updates in another section, did some good organizing work there
  • Nov 14th rally planning: The 5 year funding defense rally is in 3 weeks, we’ve started hammering out details

🎥 Communications

  • Union updates: communicated important events and updates via listservs, Slack channels and social media
  • Mail fee committee: Supported organizing with flyers, comms and media (Stanford Daily)
  • Solidarity + external: publicized national No Kings rallies endorsed by UE and organized joint attendance with Stanford alumni over reunion weekend!

—|—|—

📅 Mark your calendar!

Upcoming events, training sessions, workshops, GMMs… you name it

Event

Time

Location

Contact

Membership Building Committee Thursdays6–7pm Green Earth Sciences 365 or on Zoom organizing@sgwu.us
Data + Tech Committee Tuesdays9–10am CoDA E203 recording@sgwu.us
Steward Leadership School Sunday, Nov 910am–2pm STLC 111 contact@sgwu.us
General Membership Meeting (GMM) TBD TBD leb@sgwu.us

👊 About us

Stanford Graduate Workers Union (United Electric Local 1043) represents graduate workers’ interests as university employees and negotiates collectively over employment conditions like pay, benefits, health and safety, and protections against harassment and discrimination. We believe that graduate workers at Stanford power the research and teaching integral to the University’s operations, reputation, and mission, and we deserve to have fair compensation and working conditions.

Local Executive Board

Our elected officers and Area Chief Stewards carry out decisions made by the membership in between General Membership Meetings, handle grievances, keep our union running, and respond to urgent situations. The local executive board is elected annually for a one-year term.

Standing Committees

Our three Standing Committees (Membership Building, Communications, Data and Technology) help run the day-to-day operations of our union. These Committees meet weekly and are open to all rank-and-file members.

Get in touch

We welcome questions, comments and feedback through our emails, website, or social media.

sgwu.us
contact@sgwu.us
@stanfordgwu.ue
@StanfordGWU
[sgwu-announce

@lists.stanford.edu](https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/sgwu-announce)

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2025-11-03: Rally to Defend 5 Year Funding - Nov 14th, 12pm, Eng Quad

Stanford is weakening the 5-Year Funding Guarantee. Rally with us Nov. 14 at NOON in the Engineering Quad to defend our funding.


Dear Graduate Workers,

TL; DR: Stanford is weakening the 5-Year Funding Guarantee. Rally with us Nov. 14 at NOON in the Engineering Quad to defend our funding. RSVP here! 📣

When we made our decisions to attend Stanford, the administration promised a 5-Year Funding Guarantee. When we signed our contract last year on the eve of a strike, they reiterated that pledge. Now, that assurance is being put to the test, and Stanford’s actions so far do not inspire confidence.

We are being pushed to graduate early. TA positions are being cut. Stanford has asserted on their website that 5-Year Funding is conditional on having “an advisor committed to funding you.” This rollback would be laughable were it not for the very real danger it poses to graduate workers. In these uncertain times, it instead evokes fear.

Join us on November 14th at NOON in the Engineering Quad to show Stanford that we remember the 5 Year Funding Guarantee. Bring your friends and bring your lab. Together we will demand Stanford affirm and deliver on their promise to us.

In Solidarity,

SGWU



2025-10-24: Statement Release - Hands Off the Bay

Statement on ICE presence in the Bay and the ongoing threats to international graduate workers and our immigrant community + community resources.


Dear Graduate Workers,

Please find the statement (sgwu.us/s/hands-off) below from the SGWU Local Executive Board regarding the Wednesday announcement from the Trump administration to dispatch more than 100 federal agents to the Bay and the ongoing threats to international graduate workers and our immigrant community. The statement includes compiled community resources both on and off-campus.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

October 24, 2025

HANDS OFF THE BAY

The Trump administration announced on the evening of Wednesday, October 22 their plans to dispatch more than 100 federal agents, including from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, to a U.S. Coast Guard base in Alameda County for anticipated immigration crackdowns akin to those in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland.

This decision was seen as a likely precursor to President Trump deploying National Guard troops to the Bay by invoking the Insurrection Act, which continues the dangerous abuse of power by the current administration.

As of noon on Thursday, October 23, President Trump says he is no longer planning to “surge” resources to San Francisco, citing conversations with tech industry friends and Mayor Daniel Lurie. This comes on the heels of one of the largest days of protest in U.S. history with more than 100,000 rallying for No Kings across the Bay.

The dispatching of federal agents and deployment of the National Guard incites terror, anger, and permeates a chilling effect in our community. As we saw with the revocation of visas of Stanford University students in April and restrictions on H1B visas last month, attacks against our international scholar community are not a potentiality, but an imminent reality. No Stanford student, graduate worker, instructor, staff, or community member should be made to fear for their life or livelihood, nor should we have to fear that our coworkers will be abducted by U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The unrelenting attacks on our international scholar community additionally include President Trump’s proposed “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education.” The Compact promises universities preferential funding benefits and federal favor in exchange for requirements falsely painted as benefits to American students. However, the Compact seeks to cap international student enrollment at 15% of the undergraduate student body and requires universities to share “all known information” on foreign students with the Departments of State and Homeland Security upon request.

The deployment of the National Guard, ongoing immigration crackdowns, and the Compact represent a surveillance state that threatens workers across the Bay and puts all graduate workers at risk. As the Stanford Graduate Workers Union, we must stand up to demand an end to Stanford’s capitulation to federal demands. In moments like these, we look to the rich history of organizing in the San Francisco Bay Area and in Higher Ed. In 2006, millions of workers participated in “A Day Without an Immigrant,” which effectively shut down cities across the country. MIT, the first university to reject the compact, faced heavy pressure to do so by organized graduate students (our sibling Local, UE 256) and the broader community.

We must remember and remind everyone watching: we are the ones who keep our communities and institutions running (Stanford Works Because We Do!), and we will not fall for shallow divide-and-conquer tactics or stand for any engagement with racist, anti-immigrant, or anti-worker policies. If the Trump administration orders federal troops to the Bay, enacts mass raids, or further puts our international scholar community at risk, the Stanford Graduate Workers Union is prepared to act. The widespread attacks on workers, higher education, and our immigrant communities can only be stopped when we stand together.

Stanford Graduate Workers Union – UE Local 1043 Local Executive Board

###

Join your fellow graduate workers on Sunday, November 9 for the Steward Leadership School to learn about the strategies we can use to help ensure that our contract is being enforced across campus and how we can organize to win a stronger second contract in 2027 and protect all graduate workers! RSVP at sgwu.us/s/sls.

Please see the next page for compiled community resources. If you see suspected ICE activity on campus, please call the Santa Clara County Rapid Response Network: (408) 290-1144 with location details.

Community Resources

Rapid Response Hotlines

If you see suspected ICE activity on campus, please call Santa Clara County’s hotline: (408) 290-1144 with location details.

Stanford Immigration Defense Coalition

Campus and Community Resources

  • ACLU: Know Your Rights – Immigrants’ Rights: Information on what to do if you’re stopped by police or ICE, includes your rights during questioning, home visits, or arrests.

  • Stanford Immigration Portal: Central hub for immigration-related information, including legal resources, university policies, emergency support services, and campus contacts for students, staff, and faculty navigating immigration concerns.

  • Undocumented at Stanford: Dedicated resource platform for undocumented and DACAmented students, providing legal support referrals, financial aid guidance, academic advocacy, wellness resources, and connections to community networks.

  • Stanford Law School Immigrants’ Rights Clinic: Legal clinic where law students provide free legal representation and advocacy to immigrants facing deportation, detention, or rights violations, including connections to direct legal aid.

  • Bechtel International Center: Provides immigration advising for international students and scholars; includes visa services, travel guidance, and support with maintaining legal status in the U.S.

  • Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): Offers mental health support, therapy, and crisis care. A 24/7 confidential support line is also available at (650) 723-3785.

In Solidarity,

SGWU



2025-10-22: Union Cafeteria + GMM TODAY

Union Cafeteria 5pm today; General Membership Meeting 6pm today.


Dear Graduate Workers,

We look forward to seeing you at our Union Cafeteria (EVGR B 144 at 5pm) and General Membership Meeting (GMM) (EVGR C 134 Theater at 6pm) today! If you haven’t yet, please RSVP here if you would like to join us for dinner.

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
Union Cafeteria Wed, Oct 22 at 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Wed, Oct 22 at 6pm EVGR C 134
Membership Building Committee Thurs, Oct 23 at 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365
Steward Leadership School Sun, Nov 9 at 10am STLC 111
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Oct 28 at 9am CoDA E203


2025-10-21: Rally to Defend 5 Year Funding - Nov 14th, 12pm, Eng Quad

Your 5 year funding is at risk! Make Stanford honor their promises!!! Rally November 14th at 12pm in the Engineering Quad


TL;DR:

  • Your 5 year funding is at risk! Make Stanford honor their promises!!! Rally November 14th at 12pm in the Engineering Quad

  • RSVP Here: RSVPs help with planning and encouraging others to come!

Dear Fellow Graduate Workers,

We are 1 year into our contract, and the 5 Year Funding Guarantee is already at risk. Grad students are being pushed to graduate early, TA positions are being cut, and Stanford is pulling back from their commitment. Despite promising 5 years of funding in Admission Letters, in a Formal Letter to SGWU by Provost Jenny Martinez, and on their own website, Stanford administration is now claiming that in order to qualify for funding you need an advisor willing to fund you. This is not only a blatant rollback of their commitment, but given the current risk to research funding it leaves grad workers extremely vulnerable.

Stanford must be held accountable to their commitments. Join us on November 14th at NOON in the Engineering Quad to show Stanford that we remember the 5 Year Funding Guarantee and that Stanford must not abandon their graduate students in these uncertain times. Showing our united strength in-person is the best way to pressure Stanford - bring your friends and bring your lab. Anyone who wants to stand in solidarity is welcome and encouraged to come.

In Solidarity,

SGWU



2025-10-20: Free Dinner @ Union Cafeteria and GMM on Wed 10/22!

Reminder - Union Cafeteria and General Membership Meeting on October 22nd!


Dear Graduate Workers,

A reminder that our next Union Cafeteria will be on October 22nd in EVGR B 144 at 5pm, followed by our General Membership Meeting (GMM) in EVGR C 134 Theater at 6pm. Please RSVP here if you would like to join us for dinner!

At this GMM, we’ll be talking about next steps to fight against the Trump administration’s attacks on higher education and protecting your work appointments, e.g. establishing a strong steward network and contract education for our contract birthday.

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Oct 21 at 9am CoDA E203
Union Cafeteria Wed, Oct 22 at 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Wed, Oct 22 at 6pm EVGR C 134
Membership Building Committee Thurs, Oct 23 at 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365
Steward Leadership School Sun, Nov 9 at 10am STLC 111


2025-10-17: Union cafeteria (5pm) + GMM (6pm) on Wed 10/22

Free dinner at Union Cafeteria and General Membership Meeting on Oct 22nd + sign up for Steward Leadership School Nov. 9!


TL;DR:

  • Free dinner at Union Cafeteria on Oct 22nd at 5pm in EVGR B 144

  • Followed by General Membership Meeting at 6pm in EVGR C Theater

  • Steward Leadership School on November 9 at 10am in STLC 111, open to ALL grad workers interested in fortifying our rights and organizing!

-———————

Dear Graduate Workers,

A reminder that our next Union Cafeteria will be on October 22nd in EVGR B 144 at 5pm, followed by our General Membership Meeting (GMM) in EVGR C 134 Theater at 6pm.

On this month’s agenda, we have:

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Organizing report – hear about actions the UE Higher Ed Conference Board is taking to fight against Trump’s “Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education”

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Announcement of our Steward Leadership School for stewards, prospective stewards, and all curious about getting involved! RSVP here: sgwu.us/s/sls

  • Planning towards our November 14th contract ratification rally

  • Updates from members on the mail fee and EVGR package delivery delays

Please RSVP here!

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
#NoKings Rally Palo Alto Sat, Oct 18 at 11:30am Town & Country Village. Meet at Koret Plaza on campus at 11:15am to walk over!
#NoKings across the country Sat, Oct 18 (various times) Find a protest near you
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Oct 21 at 9am CoDA E203
Union Cafeteria Wed, Oct 22 at 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Wed, Oct 22 at 6pm EVGR C 134
Membership Building Committee Thurs, Oct 23 at 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365
Steward Leadership School Sun, Nov 9 at 10am STLC 111


2025-10-16: 2025 10 16_2

Join Labor for Democracy and other allies Saturday, October 18 to fight for freedom of speech, union rights, and the right to protest.


Dear Graduate Workers,

On Saturday, October 18, SGWU-UE will join Labor for Democracy and other allies to fight for freedom of speech, union rights, and the right to protest.

Come to the Town & Country Village at 11:30 AM to demand #NoKings and #NoBillionaires making decisions for our workplaces, families and communities. SGWU and Stanford alumni volunteers will meet at Koret Plaza at 11:15 AM to walk over together!

Don’t live on campus? Find an action near you or sign up to host your own!

In Solidarity,

SGWU

More info from the MayDay Movement about the October 18 actions:

Billionaires are converting the government into their private slush fund and just passed the largest wealth giveaway in the history of the US. The money they take from our families, they put in their overstuffed pockets.

Just like any bad boss, the way we stop the takeover is with collective action. We are working people rising up to stop the billionaire takeover — not just through the ballot box or the courts, but through building a bigger and stronger movement. We are fighting for a country that is more fair, just, equitable, and free for all of us — not just a chosen few.

Thousands of communities across the country are taking a stand to demand #NoKings and #NoBillionaires this October 18. We will be in the streets, outside the offices of the corporate criminals who are behind the attacks on our freedoms, and at congressional offices. Together we will demand a country that puts workers over billionaires.

MAYDAY MOVEMENT DEMANDS TO BUILD THE SOCIETY WE ALL DESERVE:

  • Stop the billionaire takeover corrupting our government.

  • Protect and defend Medicaid, Social Security, and other programs for working people.

  • Fully funded schools, and healthcare and housing for all.

  • Stop the attacks on immigrants, Black, indigenous, trans people, and all our communities.

  • Invest in people not wars.

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2025-10-16: Stanford Haunted by Ghost Packages, Calls a Meeting with Union Leadership for Exorcism

No rally today or Friday. Stanford claimed they knew the mail system would cause problems and implemented it anyway - come to the GSC meeting tonight, 7:30pm to hold LBRE and R&DE accountable.


Takeaways:

  • No rally today or Friday; rallies are paused while we continue recruiting organizers and meeting with Stanford
  • Stanford claimed they knew the mail system would cause problems, implemented it anyway, and don’t know how to fix the problems they caused.
  • LBRE and R&DE; will be at the Graduate Student Council meeting today, 7:30pm. Go make your voice heard!
  • Come to our social today, 6PM between EVGR B and C!

Dear Graduate Workers,

Yesterday your union met with key decision-makers from Land, Building and Real Estate (LBRE) to discuss the mail fee and the issues around their new unilateral policy to send all packages to their Newark warehouse. This is a huge step in the right direction, and a clear indication that they’re feeling the pressure from everyone who lives on campus and has been coming to our ghost package rallies. The outcome however? They’re still keeping the mail fee. Administrators passed blame between departments from Transportation to the Provost. Ridiculous! They said grad students should “order fewer packages” and claimed that only two or three items have been lost in total, but we know the reality on the ground is that packages get lost so much more frequently (on that note, please continue reporting lost packages; we use this information in our meetings with Stanford).

When we asked Stanford how EVGR residents could receive important documents like passports and tax forms that are required to be sent to their residence addresses, LBRE claimed they “weren’t responsible” for these packages being rejected because they aren’t addressed to the warehouse. Stanford admitted they knew students would have problems receiving these critical items, chose to implement their broken mail system anyway, and now don’t know how to correct the problems they caused.

We’re going to need a lot more pressure to keep up momentum on mail and packages, and we need you to step up! Report your problems here, join the mail committee led by elected Area Chief Steward Chad Serrao [cmserrao@stanford.edu] and get organized. We’ll be holding off on more rallies while we continue meeting with Stanford and onboarding more organizers to join this fight.

In Solidarity,
SGWU

Graduated? Unsubscribe here

—|—



2025-10-15: Union Happy Hour Tomorrow 10/16!!

Union happy hour tomorrow 6pm in the EVGR B/C lawn!


Hello Stanford Graduate Workers!

Tomorrow 10/16 at 6PM , we will once again be hosting a union happy hour in the lawn between EVGR B and C (pizza & ENABS provided)🍹🍕. If you have some time and would like to meet some of your fellow graduate workers and relax after the workday, please stop by! We will also be providing updates on union events/activities, so this is also a great place to stay up to date on anything and everything SGWU! Hope to see y’all there!

-Membership Building Committee (MBC) Social Planning Team



2025-10-14: SGWU meets Stanford tomorrow;

SGWU will meet Stanford tomorrow, 11AM in Tresidder, to discuss mail and package demands - rally moved to 1130AM tomorrow in White Plaza.


Grad Workers!

SGWU will meet Stanford tomorrow, 11AM in Tresidder, to discuss your demands:

  • Stop rejecting deliveries to EVGR.

  • Ensure all grad students, including those with disabilities, can receive deliveries.

  • End the mail fee and reimburse Autumn 2025 fees.

We are moving tomorrow’s rally to 11:30AM in White Plaza. We will not be going to Main Quad; instead we will be outside Tresidder with your ghost boxes, supporting our fellow graduate workers as they meet with Stanford.

During this meeting, it’s critical that we show Stanford how many of us care about ending the mail fee and restoring reliable package delivery in campus housing. If you can’t make this time, send a friend to go in your place! If you live on campus, you can help by sharing this announcement in your housing group chat. And please RSVP (so we know how many people to expect).

If there’s a specific concern you want raised at the meeting, reply to this email to share it!

Finally, we will announce an updated rally schedule tomorrow. This is a fast-moving situation and we know emails can get missed. Please RSVP or check our website calendar for updates on the times and locations of these rallies!

See you there,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

What? When? Where?
Membership Building Meetings Thursdays 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365 and Zoom
Ghost Box Rally Oct. 15 11:30am-12pm; future days/times TBD White Plaza
Union Cafeteria (free dinner) Oct. 22 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Oct. 22 6pm EVGR C 134

Graduated? Unsubscribe here



2025-10-14: No rally today (rain). See you Wednesday!

SGWU will meet with Stanford to discuss grad workers’ demands - stop interfering with deliveries and end/reimburse the mail fee. Join us at the rally!


Takeaways:

  • SGWU will meet with Stanford to discuss grad workers’ demands: stop interfering with deliveries and end/reimburse the mail fee.

  • Join us in delivering ghost boxes to Stanford President Jon Levin: 12:30pm Wednesday 10/15, Thursday 10/16, Friday 10/17. Please RSVP!

Grad Workers!

Despite the rain, we delivered your message to Stanford administration:

  • Stop rejecting deliveries to EVGR.

  • Ensure all grad students, including those with disabilities, can receive deliveries.

  • End the mail fee and reimburse Autumn 2025 fees.

Stanford can no longer ignore their mail and package disaster. Yesterday, administrators were waiting outside the President’s office to receive your demands. Stanford has begun working with SGWU for Union officials to meet with LBRE, the department responsible for the mail fee and package disruptions.

The Stanford Daily is reporting on mail and package problems: contact them directly at https://stanforddaily.com/tips/ if you have something to share.

Today more rain is forecasted, so we will not be gathering. Find us Wednesday 10/15, Thursday 10/16 and Friday 10/17. We’ll gather in White Plaza, leave by 12:45 and walk to the President’s Office (Building 10, Main Quad) with your ghost boxes. Please RSVP!

We will continue attempting delivery of your ghost boxes until grad workers’ demands are met. Stay up-to-date via email and our website calendar and bring your friends! SGWU’s power comes from your collective action.

I’m out of the loop. What is this?

R&DE; is charging grad students a $180/year fee to receive mail and packages. First, this is a subversion of the intent of the rent letter Stanford agreed to. Second, although Stanford pledged not to interfere with deliveries to campus housing, the Union has received many reports that Stanford staff have been rejecting deliveries addressed to EVGR residents, preventing students from receiving credit cards, bank documents, medication and other items. There have also been reports that Stanford tampered with the mapping system used by delivery companies, causing food deliveries to get lost. Disabled students’ packages are being left in inaccessible locations. We need to act to solve these problems, end the fees, and restore reliable mail services in campus housing.

Help plan these and more actions: Join the SGWU Slack and stop by our committee meetings to share your ideas.

See you there,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

What? When? Where?
Membership Building Meetings Thursdays 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365 and Zoom
Ghost Box Rallies Oct. 15 onward, 12:30-1pm White Plaza/Main Quad
Union Cafeteria (free dinner) Oct. 22 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Oct. 22 6pm EVGR C 134


2025-10-13: No Fees,

Stanford is charging everyone in campus housing $180/year to receive packages. Ghost Box rally today!


Takeaways:

  • Stanford is charging everyone in campus housing $180/year to receive packages. Check your bill!

  • Grad workers have simple demands: stop interfering with deliveries and end/reimburse the mail fee.

  • Join us in delivering ghost boxes to Stanford President Jon Levin in Main Quad: 12:30pm today and every weekday until our demands are met.

Grad Workers!

We’re ready to deliver your ghost boxes! But there’s a lot more than we can carry…

Meet us in White Plaza at 12:30pm today to deliver these boxes and your demands:

  • Stop rejecting deliveries to EVGR.

  • Ensure all grad students, including those with disabilities, can receive deliveries.

  • End the mail fee and reimburse Autumn 2025 fees.

Ghost Box Deliveries - Oct. 13, 14, 15,… 12:30pm - 1pm. Meet at White Plaza and march to the President’s office in Main Quad. If Levin doesn’t come out to accept his responsibility, we’ll try again the next day…

We will continue attempting delivery of your ghost boxes until grad workers’ demands are met. Stay up-to-date via email and our website calendar and bring your friends! SGWU’s power comes from your collective action.

I’m out of the loop. What is this?

R&DE; is charging grad students a $180/year fee to receive mail and packages. First, this is an increase in violation of the intent of the rent letter Stanford agreed to. Second, although Stanford pledged not to interfere with deliveries to campus housing, Stanford staff have been rejecting deliveries addressed to EVGR residents, preventing students from receiving credit cards, bank documents, medication and other items. Stanford tampered with the mapping system used by delivery companies, causing food deliveries to get lost. Disabled students’ packages are being left in inaccessible locations. We need to act to solve these problems, end the fees, and restore reliable mail services in campus housing.

Help plan these and more actions: Join the SGWU Slack and stop by our committee meetings to share your ideas.

See you there,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

What? When? Where?
Membership Building Committee - get involved in planning this rally! Thursdays 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365 and Zoom
Ghost Box Rallies Oct. 13 onward, 12:30-1pm White Plaza/Main Quad
Union Cafeteria (free dinner) Oct. 22 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Oct. 22 6pm EVGR C 134

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2025-10-08: Union cafeteria (5pm) + GMM (6pm) on Wed 10/22

Free dinner at Union Cafeteria + General Membership Meeting Oct. 22nd


TL;DR:

  • Free dinner at Union Cafeteria on October 22nd at 5pm in EVGR B 144

  • Followed by General Membership Meeting at 6pm in EVGR C Theater

-———————

Dear Graduate Workers,

Our next Union Cafeteria will be on October 22nd in EVGR B 144 at 5pm. This is a community-run event where we cook delicious food and connect with fellow coworkers!

Following dinner, let’s walk over to our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) , held in EVGR C 134 Theater at 6pm. On this month’s agenda, we have:

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Announcement of our Steward Leadership School for newly elected stewards

  • Planning towards our November 14th contract birthday rally

  • Updates from members on the mail fee and EVGR package delivery delays

Please RSVP here to make sure we get enough food for the cafeteria and so we can send you a Zoom link if you prefer to attend remotely!

In Solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
Membership Building Committee Thurs, Oct 9 at 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365
Ghost Box Painting for Monday Rally Sat and Sun, Oct 11-12 at 5-7pm EVGR B/C Lawn
Data and Tech Committee Tues, Oct 14 at 9am CoDA E203
Union Cafeteria Wed, Oct 22 at 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Wed, Oct 22 at 6pm EVGR C 134


2025-10-08: No Fees, No Rejected Deliveries Ghost Box Rally Monday 10/13

Stanford is preventing graduate students in EVGR from receiving packages - make ghost boxes this weekend and rally on Monday to deliver them to Jon Levin!


Takeaways:

  • Stanford is preventing graduate students in EVGR from receiving packages to their homes, and charging fees for the broken system they’ve forced on students.

  • Grad workers have simple demands: stop interfering with deliveries and end/reimburse the mail fee.

  • Stanford won’t listen until we make them. Join us in making ghost boxes this weekend and delivering them to Stanford President Jon Levin in Main Quad: Monday the 13th onward until our demands are met.

Dear Graduate Workers,

Although Stanford pledged not to interfere with deliveries to campus housing, Stanford staff have been rejecting deliveries addressed to EVGR residents, preventing students from receiving credit cards, bank documents, medication and other items. Stanford tampered with the mapping system used by delivery companies, causing food deliveries to get lost. Disabled students’ packages are being left in inaccessible locations. We should be focused on research and classes – not hunting for our mail.

Grad workers have three demands:

  • Stop rejecting deliveries to EVGR.

  • Ensure all grad students, including those with disabilities, can receive deliveries.

  • End the mail fee and reimburse Autumn 2025 fees.

We know from last year’s contract negotiations that Stanford won’t budge until we force them to, and that the fastest, most effective way to solve this problem is to make some noise. We need you to rally against fees, rejected deliveries, and the colossal waste of time Stanford has caused.

Ghost Box Painting - FREE FOOD - Oct. 11th and 12th (Sat, Sun), 5-7pm on the tables between EVGR B and C.

Have you lost a package? Bring it back as a ghost box to deliver to President Levin. We’ll have snacks, boxes, and art supplies ready.

Ghost Box Deliveries - Oct. 13, 14, 15,… 12:30pm - 1pm. Meet at White Plaza and march to the President’s office in Main Quad, where we’ll attempt to deliver your ghost boxes (find us outside in Main Quad). If Levin doesn’t come out to accept his responsibility, we’ll try again the next day…

We will continue attempting delivery of your ghost boxes until grad workers’ demands are met. Stay up-to-date via email and our website calendar. Remember: we need you here! SGWU’s power comes from your collective action.

Help plan these and more actions: Join the SGWU Slack and stop by our committee meetings to share your ideas.

See you there,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS

What? When? Where?
Membership Building Committee - get involved in planning this rally! Thursdays 6pm Green Earth Sciences 365 and Zoom
Ghost Box Painting Oct. 11, 12, 5-7pm EVGR B/C lawn
Ghost Box Rallies Oct. 13 onward, 12:30-1pm White Plaza/Main Quad
Union Cafeteria (free dinner) Oct. 22 5pm EVGR B 144
General Membership Meeting Oct. 22 6pm EVGR C 134


2025-10-08: Membership Building Committee Tomorrow

Join Membership Building Committee this week!


Dear Grad Workers,

Are you interested in organizing with The Union? Do you want to help contribute to our ongoing fights?

Then Membership Building Committee is the place for you!

This week will be planning upcoming organizing events and actions, talking about our card drive campaign, and anything you want to bring up!

Meetings are at 6pm in Green Earth Science room 365, zoom link**here.**

There will also be pizza!

Yours in Solidary,

The Membership Building Committee



2025-09-25: GMM + Town Hall TODAY with Zareen's

General Membership Meeting and Town Hall TODAY tackling erosion of the five-year funding guarantee, Cardinal Care changes and mail disruptions in EVGR.


Dear Graduate Workers,

A reminder that our first General Membership Meeting (GMM) and Town Hall of the year are today at 5pm and 6pm in EVGR C 134 Theater. You must be a member in good standing to attend the GMM (see below), but the town hall is open to all students.

We’ll meet our new UE national officers, swear in new stewards to help defend our contract, and go over the election timeline for the next generation of union leadership. At the town hall, we’ll discuss + strategize on critical issues affecting graduate workers at Stanford, such as Stanford’s erosion of the 5-year funding commitment, issues with the new Cardinal Care, and getting LBRE to meet with grad workers on mail disruptions in EVGR.

Please RSVP here for the Zoom link and to make sure we get enough food from Zareen’s!

In Solidarity,
SGWU

Am I a member in good standing?

Returning PhD students : You have signed a membership card and you are in good standing with respect to dues. If you are partially or fully funded by a fellowship, you must be up to date on voluntary dues.

Returning Master’s students : You have signed a membership card, you held a bargaining unit position in the past year, and you are in good standing with respect to dues.

New PhD students : You have signed a membership card. Since appointments have not started yet, you do not have any dues obligations yet.

New Master’s students : You have signed a membership card. You will hold either an appointment or a fellowship for fall quarter. Since appointments have not started yet, you do not have any dues obligations yet.



2025-09-24: GMM + Town Hall 9/25 with Zareen’s

Reminder about General Membership Meeting and Town Hall. Discuss erosion of the five-year funding guarantee, Cardinal Care changes and mail disruptions in EVGR.


TL;DR:

  • Come to our next GMM (members only - 5pm) and Town Hall (open to everyone - 6pm) on Thursday 9/25 in EVGR C 134 Theater.

  • Please RSVP for Zareen’s!

  • On the agenda: fighting Stanford’s erosion of the 5-year funding commitment, getting Stanford to stop ignoring issues with Cardinal Care, and getting LBRE to meet with grad workers on mail disruptions in EVGR.

—————

Dear Graduate Workers,

Join us at our first General Membership Meeting (GMM) and Town Hall of the year, where we’ll discuss + strategize on critical issues affecting graduate workers at Stanford. Please RSVP here for the Zoom link and to make sure we get enough food from Zareen’s!

General Membership Meeting (open to members in good standing - see below)

📅 When: Thursday, September 25 at 5pm

📍 Where: EVGR C 134 Theater

✊ Agenda:

  • Recap on the UE National Convention and things we’ve learned from sibling unions across the country

  • Grievances we’ve already won and ones we’re still fighting

  • Meeting our newly elected national officers Kim Lawson and Scott Slawson

  • Nominating + electing stewards to defend our working conditions on the ground

Town Hall (open to all students)

📅 When: Thursday, September 25 at 6pm

📍 Where: EVGR C 134 Theater

✊ Agenda:

  • Fighting Stanford’s erosion of the 5-year funding commitment

  • Getting Stanford to stop ignoring issues with Cardinal Care

  • Getting LBRE to meet with grad workers on mail disruptions in EVGR

In Solidarity,

SGWU

Am I a member in good standing?

  • Returning PhD students: You have signed a membership card and you are in good standing with respect to dues. If you are partially or fully funded by a fellowship, you must be up to date on voluntary dues.

  • Returning Master’s students: You have signed a membership card, you held a bargaining unit position in the past year, and you are in good standing with respect to dues.

  • New PhD students: You have signed a membership card. Since appointments have not started yet, you do not have any dues obligations yet.

  • New Master’s students: You have signed a membership card. You will hold either an appointment or a fellowship for fall quarter. Since appointments have not started yet, you do not have any dues obligations yet.

Your issues: 5 Year Funding

Stanford pledged to fund PhD grad workers for five years of their degree. They re-affirmed this promise in the side letter to the contract SGWU and Stanford signed last November. However, in grievance meetings across departments and schools, the Union has seen Stanford steadily trying to erode what they argue the five year funding guarantee covers – rendering what was supposed to be a guarantee of workers security to finish their degree into a nearly worthless platitude.

As we come up on the one year anniversary of our contract in November, we need to make sure Stanford remembers what they promised. Especially in the current funding climate, grad workers deserve the peace of mind that they won’t be dropped from their degree program by arbitrary funding cuts. We will be discussing at the town hall the organizing plans for the fall, to show Stanford that Stanford works because we do.

Your issues: Health insurance

This year, Stanford switched health insurance providers to Blue Shield of California, managed by Wellfleet. Are you having trouble with referrals, getting providers to accept your insurance, or anything else? Come discuss your experiences and join the SGWU Slack to discuss with grad workers across campus.

We requested a town hall with Stanford to address your healthcare concerns, but they ignored us. GLO will be hosting a Zoom webinar on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 12:30 on Cardinal Care Insurance, but many of us have outstanding questions on coverage and continuation of care. We need your help to plan organizing efforts! Our union’s power comes from your collective participation.

Your issues: mail and package delivery disruptions in EVGR; Mail fee

We have collected over 60 reports of package delivery disruptions since launching our reporting form on Sep. 10. Using this data, we requested a town hall with LBRE, the administrative department responsible for the Stanford Warehouse and the Graduate Package Center, where packages have been getting frequently rejected and/or delayed.. However, LBRE refused to meet with graduate workers.

We need your help to plan ways to stop the disruption, reverse the mail fee, and hold Stanford accountable. All ideas are welcome at the Organizing Town Hall.

Here’s what you can do right now.

  • Keep reporting any mail and package issues using our reporting form. This form automatically emails LBRE and Student Affairs – they can’t claim to be ignorant of the problems they’ve caused.

  • Report package issues to the carrier.

    • USPIS takes any hindrance to USPS deliveries very seriously. It is your right to receive timely mail delivery.

    • UPS and Amazon are troubled by the mail policy. We need to make it clear Stanford LBRE is the culprit for customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue.

  • Join the #evgr-mail slack channel for latest updates on the issue

  • Send a tip to the Stanford Daily. You can remain anonymous!

  • Join the mail fee committee on the SGWU Slack.

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
General Membership Meeting - Open to Members in Good Standing Sep. 25, 5 PM EVGR C 134
Dinner and Organizing Town Hall - Open to All Grads Sep. 25, 6 PM EVGR C 134


2025-09-21: General Membership Meeting + Dinner + Town Hall Sep. 25

General Membership Meeting and Town Hall tackling erosion of the five-year funding guarantee, Cardinal Care changes and mail disruptions in EVGR.


TL;DR:

  • We have seen erosion to the five year funding commitment across the University. Stanford has ignored us about meeting to discuss changes to Cardinal Care. LBRE, the department responsible for recent mail disruptions in EVGR, refused to meet with grad workers.

  • We’re holding an Organizing Town Hall and need you to brainstorm ways to tackle these fights.

  • Next General Membership Meeting, Sep. 25, 2025 at 5 PM – open to SGWU members.

  • Free dinner and Organizing Town Hall Sep. 25 6 PM – open to all grad workers! Please RSVP for food!

—————

Dear Graduate Workers,

Our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will be on Sep. 25, 2025 in EVGR C 134. Please RSVP here for the Zoom link and to make sure we get enough food!

5 PM - GMM, open to SGWU members in good standing (have signed a member card and are paying dues if in the Bargaining Unit or voluntary dues if on fellowship).

Agenda:

  • Recap of last month’s UE National Convention

  • Kim Lawson and Scott Slawson, the newly elected UE National officers, want to meet you! Learn how unions across the US are defending our rights.

  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!

  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms

  • Update on health insurance changes

  • Update on the mail fee and EVGR package delivery disruptions

6 PM - Free dinner from Zareen’s (Indian food including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free choices). Organizing Town Hall on your issues, open to all grad workers. We encourage all grad workers to become members to participate in the democratic operation of our union. Due to the high influx of new workers at the beginning of the quarter, the Organizing Town Hall will be open to everyone!

Your issues: 5 Year Funding

Stanford pledged to fund PhD grad workers for five years of their degree. They re-affirmed this promise in the side letter to the contract SGWU and Stanford signed last November. However, in grievance meetings across departments and schools, the Union has seen Stanford steadily trying to erode what they argue the five year funding guarantee covers – rendering what was supposed to be a guarantee of workers security to finish their degree into a nearly worthless platitude.

As we come up on the one year anniversary of our contract in November, we need to make sure Stanford remembers what they promised. Especially in the current funding climate, grad workers deserve the peace of mind that they won’t be dropped from their degree program by arbitrary funding cuts. We will be discussing at the town hall the organizing plans for the fall, to show Stanford that Stanford works because we do.

Your issues: Health insurance

This year, Stanford switched health insurance providers to Blue Shield of California, managed by Wellfleet. Are you having trouble with referrals, getting providers to accept your insurance, or anything else? Come discuss your experiences and join the SGWU Slack to discuss with grad workers across campus.

We requested a town hall with Stanford to address your healthcare concerns, but they ignored us. GLO will be hosting a Zoom webinar on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 12:30 on Cardinal Care Insurance, but many of us have outstanding questions on coverage and continuation of care. We need your help to plan organizing efforts! Our union’s power comes from your collective participation.

Your issues: mail and package delivery disruptions in EVGR; Mail fee

We have collected over 60 reports of package delivery disruptions since launching our reporting form on Sep. 10. Using this data, we requested a town hall with LBRE, the administrative department responsible for the Stanford Warehouse and the Graduate Package Center, where packages have been getting frequently rejected and/or delayed.. However, LBRE refused to meet with graduate workers.

We need your help to plan ways to stop the disruption, reverse the mail fee, and hold Stanford accountable. All ideas are welcome at the Organizing Town Hall.

Here’s what you can do right now.

  • Keep reporting any mail and package issues using our reporting form. This form automatically emails LBRE and Student Affairs – they can’t claim to be ignorant of the problems they’ve caused.

  • Report package issues to the carrier.

    • USPIS takes any hindrance to USPS deliveries very seriously. It is your right to receive timely mail delivery.

    • UPS and Amazon are troubled by the mail policy. We need to make it clear Stanford LBRE is the culprit for customer dissatisfaction and lost revenue.

  • Join the #evgr-mail slack channel for latest updates on the issue

  • Send a tip to the Stanford Daily. You can remain anonymous!

  • Join the mail fee committee on the SGWU Slack.

In solidarity,

SGWU

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
General Membership Meeting - Open to SGWU Members Sep. 25, 5 PM EVGR C 134
Dinner and Organizing Town Hall - Open to All Grads Sep. 25, 6 PM EVGR C 134


2025-09-18: TODAY Welcome (back) Social + New Student Orientation

Welcome (back) Social + New Student Orientation TODAY


TL;DR

  • University-wide orientation at 6PM in Hewlett 201 today!

  • Pizza social for new + returning students at 7 PM outside Hewlett following orientation. Please RSVP for food!

Dear Graduate Workers,

We’re excited to see you at our union orientation today. Join us from 6-7 PM in Hewlett 201 to learn about your rights and benefits as a graduate worker, how you can get involved in our member-run union, grab some SGWU merch + more!

New and returning students are also encouraged to attend our Social at 7 PM outside Hewlett.

In solidarity,

Your Local Executive Board

—

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
University-Wide Orientation Sep. 18, 6pm Hewlett 201
Post-Orientation Social (new and returning workers invited!) Sep. 18, 7pm Outside Hewlett
SGWU Tabling at GOALIE Sep. 19, 12-2pm Canfield Court
General Membership Meeting - Open to SGWU Members, RSVP here Sep. 25, 5pm EVGR C 134
Dinner and Town Hall - Open to All Grads - RSVP for food Sep. 25, 6pm EVGR C 134

Graduated? Unsubscribe here



2025-09-15: Welcome (back) Social + New Student Orientation Thursday 9/18

Welcome (back) Social and Union-Wide Orientation Thursday 9/18


TL;DR

  • New and returning students: enjoy free food at our Welcome (back) Social, Thursday 7 PM outside Hewlett. Please RSVP to help us get food!

  • New students: learn about your union in a university-wide orientation Thursday 6 PM (before the social).

  • Find SGWU at the GOALIE Resource Fair Friday 12-2 PM

Dear Graduate Workers,

Welcome to Autumn 2025, our first autumn quarter under contract! If you’re a new student (or a returning one interested in a refresher), we will have a university-wide orientation Thursday, 9/18 at 6-7 PM in Hewlett 201.

Orientation will cover:

  • Which jobs are “in the bargaining unit” (covered by SGWU’s contract)

  • Your rights and benefits as a graduate worker

  • What to do if your rights are violated or you’re treated unfairly at work

  • How you can get involved in our member-run union

  • Current fights: defending research funding, international students’ rights and academic freedom, organizing against fees, campus mail delivery problems, and recent trouble with Cardinal Care health insurance

  • There will be merch!

Post-Orientation Social: Thursday 7 PM outside Hewlett. We’ll have drinks and pizza, including vegetarian and gluten-free choices. Please RSVP so we get enough food!

Also find us at GOALIE: Friday 12-2 PM. Ask us anything; our table will be full of experienced grad workers ready to share advice!

In solidarity,

SGWU

—

📅 UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
University-Wide Orientation Sep. 18, 6pm Hewlett 201
Post-Orientation Social (new and returning workers invited!) Sep. 18, 7pm Outside Hewlett
SGWU Tabling at GOALIE Sep. 19, 12-2pm Canfield Court
General Membership Meeting - Open to SGWU Members, RSVP here Sep. 25, 5pm EVGR C 134
Dinner and Town Hall - Open to All Grads - RSVP for food Sep. 25, 6pm EVGR C 134

Graduated? Unsubscribe here



2025-09-12: General Membership Meeting, Free Dinner,

Next General Membership Meeting Sep. 25, 2025, free dinner and Organizing Town Hall afterward.


TL;DR:

  • Next General Membership Meeting, Sep. 25, 2025 at 5pm – open to SGWU members
  • Free dinner and Town Hall Sep. 25 6pm – open to all grad workers!

—————

Dear Graduate Workers,

Our next General Membership Meeting (GMM) will be on Sep. 25, 2025 in EVGR C 134. Please RSVP here for the Zoom link and to make sure we get enough food!

5PM - GMM, open to SGWU members.

Agenda:

  • Recap of last month’s UE National Convention
  • Kim Lawson and Scott Slawson, the newly elected UE National officers, want to meet you! Learn how unions across the US are defending our rights.
  • Grievance Committee report – hear about grievances your union won and is fighting!
  • Steward Elections! Nominate stewards here: sgwu.us/s/steward-noms
  • Update on the mail fee and EVGR package delivery delays

6PM - Free dinner (menu TBD) and Town Hall on upcoming organizing, open to all grad workers

In solidarity,

SGWU

📅**UPCOMING EVENTS – get events, academic deadlines and other info on your calendar here.

What? When? Where?
University-Wide Orientation Sep. 18, 6pm Hewlett 201
Post-Orientation Social (new and returning workers invited!) Sep. 18, 7pm Outside Hewlett
General Membership Meeting - Open to SGWU Members Sep. 25, 5pm EVGR C 134
Dinner and Town Hall - Open to All Grads Sep. 25, 6pm EVGR C 134

Graduated? Unsubscribe here



2025-09-10: Addressing the Mail Fee and Package Delivery Disruptions in

Stanford Mail and Package Services (MPS) is interfering with EVGR deliveries. Report problems; we need evidence to fight this.


Takeaways:

  • Stanford Mail and Package Services (MPS) is interfering with EVGR deliveries

  • You may send packages to campus; MPS pledged not to interfere but has been reported diverting them to Newark

  • We need hard evidence of these problems: report them here

  • Report MPS-caused disruptions to the carrier

  • Report package theft to Public Safety

Dear Graduate Workers,

We’re writing with an update on the mail fee in campus housing, Stanford’s new package center, and disruptions to package delivery

Summary

Stanford has a long history of mail issues in campus housing. Currently, Stanford has imposed a mail fee of $150 per year ($40 per academic quarter and $30 for summer), which we consider a de-facto rent increase that violates the intent of the commitments Stanford made about rent in the side letter to our contract. We are collecting signatures on a petition against the mail fee, which you can sign here. We plan to deliver this petition to Stanford in a public rally once the quarter begins.

Stanford has also opened a new off-campus package center, the “Stanford Warehouse”, and encouraged campus residents to mail packages to the warehouse instead of their home addresses. This week we received reports that EVGR residents’ packages are being rejected on arrival to EVGR or redirected to the warehouse, incurring unacceptable delays.

Where Should I Mail My Items?

Flat mail (envelopes), perishables, and food/grocery deliveries

Always use your on-campus address. The warehouse does not accept them.

All other packages

  • You may use your on-campus address or the Stanford Warehouse.

  • If Stanford says you cannot receive items to your address, please report this to us – we need hard evidence of these actions to fight them.

  • Amazon packages can be sent to lockers at Tressider.

What are the pros and cons of the Stanford Warehouse?

If you send a package to your on-campus address:

If you send a package to the Stanford Warehouse:

  • Make sure to include your SUNetID

  • It should arrive at the warehouse and be sent to the on-campus package center or lockers. You should be able to track it.

  • Purchases sent to Stanford Warehouse will be charged 1.625% more sales tax. The warehouse is in a different zip code with a sales tax rate of 10.75%, compared to the Palo Alto rate of 9.125% (source).

  • Stanford has promised same-day delivery from the warehouse. If your packages are delayed for >24 hours, please report this to us.

What Can You Do About Package Delivery Problems?

REPORT PROBLEMS! Mail carriers and grad workers need hard evidence to fight these problems.

We are requesting a town hall with LBRE, the department responsible for the Stanford Warehouse. We also plan to meet with our local USPS Postmaster about package redirection in EVGR.

In solidarity,

SGWU Organizers



2025-09-02: Avoid the new tariffs! Bike light, helmet, and lock bulk order closes in 3 days

Avoid bike tickets! Join an SGWU member-led bulk order of bike lights, helmets and locks.


TL; DR:

  • Need a new bike helmet, light or lock? We’re working with the Campus Bike Shop to get you a 10% - 20% discount – join our bulk order before Sep. 4 and avoid potential price hikes due to tariffs.

Dear Graduate Workers,

We’re excited to see you in September! We know many workers bike on and off campus. If you plan to bike at Stanford, make sure you bring a lock, light and helmet to stay safe and avoid tickets.

If you still need these items, we’re planning a bulk order for a 10% - 20% discount. We were able to lock in the August prices of these items, as we don’t know how the prices will change due to tariffs in September.

  1. Preorder with this form. The Bike Shop is offering a bulk discount of 10% for 100 orders, or 20% for 200 orders.

  2. The form will close in 3 days on Thursday, Sep. 4. At this point, we’ll place the bulk order and ask everyone who signed up to pay for their items.

  3. Items should be available by Sep. 17 (mid-orientation week) at the Campus Bike Shop.

  4. You’re responsible for picking up your items in person. The Bike Shop staff will help you get the right size helmet.

In solidarity,

SGWU

P.S. This is a member-led campaign! If you have a great idea to help grad workers, join our Slack and we can help you execute it.