Welcome to Stanford!

We’re the Stanford Graduate Workers Union (SGWU, UE Local 1043)—the union run by and for graduate workers across departments. We organize to win fair pay, benefits, safety, and real recourse when problems arise at work.

If you’re a PhD student, your funding will likely come from research, course, and teaching appointments (including teaching fellowships). If you’re a master’s student, you might also take on one of these appointments during your tenure at Stanford. Because these roles are in our bargaining unit (BU), your pay, benefits, and safety are protected by our Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), aka “the contract.”

Our 2024–27 contract reversed years of effective pay cuts, where rises in costs of living outpaced stipend raises, setting minimum stipends at $56,348 this fall. Importantly, we got Stanford to guarantee on-campus rent hikes won’t exceed wage increases. Other benefits in our contract include the strongest nondiscrimination / anti-harassment protections in private higher ed, a 5-year funding guarantee, visa fee support for international workers, expanded family grants, dental and vision coverage, and more.

Navigating our website

You can read more about our contract, our constitution and our leadership on our website. Answers to general questions on how the union works can be found here and answers on dues-related questions can be found here

As always, reach out to contact@sgwu.us with any other questions, comments or concerns!

Orientation schedule

We’ll be at a number of events

Union orientation: Thursday, September 18 at 6-7pm in Hewlett 200. Open to all graduate students.
GOALIE (Resource Fair): Friday, Septermber 19 at 12-2pm. Drop by to come chat with your future coworkers, grab stickers, and more!
General Membership Meeting: Thursday, September 25, location and time TBD.
Department orientations: See below

Union facts

How we got here

SGWU won our National Labor Relations Board election with 94% “yes” on July 6, 2023 and ratified our first contract on Nov 22, 2024. We elected our first Local Executive Board in March 2025. We’re part of a historic movement of graduate workers organizing across the country, changing what it means to work and study in higher education.

How we work

SGWU is a rank-and-file union, meaning student workers hold the power. Members attend monthly general meetings to debate and vote on union business. Between meetings, the Local Executive Board and standing committees carry out the day-to-day work. Our elected stewards enforce the contract and organize coworkers to defend and expand our rights.

Our contract

Who we represent

You’re in the bargaining unit (fully covered) if you hold an RA/TA/CA appointment of at least 10%, or if you’re a teaching fellow. If you are 100% funded by fellowship, you aren’t in the BU, but you can still become a member by paying voluntary dues. We’re fighting to get fellows (rightfully) recognized as workers in future contracts

Union jargon glossary.

Union: A democratic organization of workers. Once recognized, it is the exclusive representative for everyone in the bargaining unit—negotiating and enforcing the contract, electing leaders, and setting priorities through member votes. Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA): The legally binding contract between the union and the employer that sets minimum, enforceable standards (wages, hours, benefits, protections), includes a grievance-and-arbitration process, and lasts for a defined term.
Side letter/MOU: A supplemental agreement that interprets or adds to the CBA.
Bargaining Unit (BU): The group of workers the union legally represents under the CBA. Steward: A trained coworker who helps you use the contract and resolve issues.
Grievance: A formal claim that the employer violated the CBA.
Arbitration: Final step of a grievance—an independent arbitrator issues a binding decision.
Just cause: The employer must have fair, proven reasons (with due process) for discipline.