Story perspectives

500 Strong Picket for Fair Contracts at UPenn

10/14/2025

Summary

Story summary

Graduate Employees Together (GET-UP) at the University of Pennsylvania held a picket on October 8, 2025, with over 500 participants.
GET-UP represents more than 3,700 graduate workers and seeks fair contracts and protections for international students.
The union criticized administration delays in contract talks that began nearly a year ago.
Key issues include rising living costs and inadequate stipends, with Penn's minimum stipend lower than those at peer institutions.

History

Historical Context

Graduate student unionization in the U.S. began in 1970 with the Teaching Assistants Association at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. By 2023, over 156 graduate student unions existed, including Graduate Employees Together (GET-UP) at the University of Pennsylvania, which represents more than 3,700 workers. This movement reflects a growing trend of labor activism in academia, addressing issues like rising living costs and inadequate stipends.

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Story summary

Graduate Employees Together (GET-UP) at the University of Pennsylvania held a picket on October 8, 2025, with over 500 participants.
GET-UP represents more than 3,700 graduate workers and seeks fair contracts and protections for international students.
The union criticized administration delays in contract talks that began nearly a year ago.
Key issues include rising living costs and inadequate stipends, with Penn's minimum stipend lower than those at peer institutions.

1 / 2