Frequently Asked Questions

What is SGWU?

Stanford Graduate Workers Union (UE Local 1043) is a democratic organization of graduate student-workers across all Stanford departments and graduate programs. SGWU 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. We are affiliated with United Electric, which supports us (+ many other grad unions) with staff and infrastructure.

How does SGWU work?

SGWU is a rank-and-file union, meaning student workers hold the power. Every member can vote on major decisions, ask questions, and participate in union leadership. We hold general membership meetings, open to all members, every month. At these meetings, we collectively discuss, debate, and vote on the decisions of our union. Between membership meetings, these decisions are carried out by our local executive board, who are elected annually. We also have three Standing Committees (Membership Building, Communications, Data and Technology) who help run the day-to-day operations of our union, which meet weekly and are open to all members. Finally, our network of union stewards, who are elected by their peers, help us enforce our contract and organize the membership to defend and advance our rights on the job. Union stewards are led by their Area Chief Stewards, who may additionally hold area meetings on a monthly basis.

Who can become an SGWU member?

All PhD, Master’s (excluding MBA), and JD students who provide instructional and/or research services for the University in classifications including Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, and Course Assistant, and students on fellowship who provide instructional services. This includes co-terms who have conferred their undergraduate degrees. Additionally, graduate students funded 100% by fellowhips (i.e. do not hold a TAship, RAship or CAship) are eligible to be members of the union by payment of voluntary dues, although you are not covered by the 2024-2027 Contract. Fellows inclusion in the bargaining unit has been, and will be, a priority for future contracts.

What is a union contract?

A union contract, or collective bargaining agreement (CBA), is a legally binding agreement between an employer and a group of workers that is negotiated through a legally protected process called collective bargaining. A contract outlines and protects the rights and benefits of the workers, and the employer is legally obligated to adhere to the contract’s stipulations. As individuals, we face a massive power imbalance with our employer. Only by acting collectively—with broad participation and democratic support—were we able to negotiate with our employer as equals and win our first contract.

Our most recent contract, covering 2024-2027, was won on November 22, 2024. Key wins in our current contract include a raise of 4.75% starting Fall 2024 for most graduate workers, with the minimum stipend being set to $54,052 and icnreasing to $56,348 and $58,460 by Fall 2025 and Fall 2026. Furthermore, Stanford has now, for the first time ever, published rents for the following two years and ensured that during the duration of the contract our wages will increase by the same or higher percentage than on-campus rents. This is a first for any higher education contract in the United States. We also won the strongest nondiscrimination clauses in private higher education (covering discrimination, harassment, and power abuse); a written commitment to the 5-year funding guarantee the union can hold Stanford accountable to; financial support to cover visa and government fees for international graduate workers; increased family grant suport for workers with dependents; dental and vision coverage via the Grant-in-Aid program; and more.

How can I join the union?

If you are eligible to join SGWU, you can request to sign a union card here.

What is the difference between being a union member and being in the bargaining unit?

The bargaining unit (BU) refers to the complete set of graduate workers who are completely protected and covered by the contract. Currently, you are in the bargaining unit if you have a biweekly appointment (RA/TA/CA) of at least 10% or you are fully funded on a fellowship and you provide instructional services (aka a teaching fellow). Most BU members elect to pay dues automatically via payroll deduction.

Additionally, we allow graduate workers who are funded completely by fellowships (not in the BU) to join our union. While Stanford does not recognize fellows as workers, we firmly believe that fellows’ work is the same as RA/TA-ship work, and fellows should be able to be involved in the union process. Fellows who would like to be members in good standing must pay dues manually.

If you have any confusion if you are in the BU or not, please reach out to contact@sgwu.us