Everything to know about the IU graduate worker strike

Photo illustration by Ethan Moore and Jacob Day |

Intro by Haley Ryan

Glossary by Emma Uber

Design and development by Jacob Day

Published April 13, 2022

Last updated Nov. 1, 2022

This page will be routinely updated with new content as new developments arise.

Members of the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition voted against a new strike on Sept. 26, the most recent development in the IGWC-UE’s over three-years-long struggle to improve working conditions at Indiana University.

Since the IGWC-UE ended its weeks-long spring strike last May, the IU administration has announced policy changes that address the IGWC-UE’s main demands, but the university hasn’t recognized the union.

As of October, IGWC-UE is in negotiations with the Bloomington Faculty Council and the Graduate and Professional Student Government with the hopes of attaining partial union representation before the end of the fall semester.

The IDS is continuing to report on this developing story. Any news tips can be forwarded to the news desk at news@idsnews.edu.

Index

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Latest Updates

How graduate workers are using Canvas, or not, to support their unionization efforts
Published Oct. 11, 2022
By Christina Avery
Read
IU administration is opposed to IGWC-UE union’s recognition. Faculty, graduate workers speculate why.
Published Oct. 4, 2022
By Natalie Fitzgibbons
Read
Graduate workers vote against a new strike
Published Sept. 26, 2022
By Carter DeJong
Read

Terms to Know

This dispute is complicated. The IDS is trying to make it easier.

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Recent Coverage

The IDS has been covering the IU graduate workers continued efforts to unionize over the past several months.

Historic Turmoil
2019 - 2021
Tipping Point
Winter 2022
First Strike
Spring 2022
Recent Coverage
IU Graduate Workers push for unionization
Published Sept. 13, 2021
By Ryan Costello
Read
Graduate workers at IU are demanding a response to what they call a lack of dignified working conditions such as unlivable pay and sizable fees to the university, IGWC spokesperson Cole Nelson said.
International graduate workers file discrimination complaint against IU
Published May 31, 2021
By Phyllis Cha
Read
Eight graduate workers filed a discrimination complaint May 17 against IU through the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, according to a press release from the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition.
IU accuses Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition of trademark violation
Published March 23, 2021
By Raul Moreno
Read
This comes after weeks of an ongoing fee strike by the organization meant to call attention to the cost of graduate worker fees, which range from $700 to $1,500 each semester.
Graduate Workers Coalition protests Thursday for no additional fees, stipends increase
Published March 11, 2021
By Cate Charron and Swarna Gowtham
Read
The Graduate Workers Coalition organized a picket line Thursday in front of Bryan Hall, where Provost Lauren Robel’s office is located, as part of a fee strike asking for IU’s administration to better compensate graduate workers for their labor.
GUEST COLUMN: I can’t pay my bills with tuition remission
Published March 10, 2021
By Guest writer
Read
From Josh Davis, IU PhD candidate
As graduate workers prepare for strike, provost lays out potential consequences
Published April 6, 2022
By Hali Tauxe
Read
Graduate workers will vote Sunday on whether to begin a strike next week.
As graduate workers contemplate strike, Bloomington campus officials announce raises
Published April 5, 2022
By Hali Tauxe
Read
The university denied the initial request in October 2021.
IU graduate workers continue fighting for unionization despite tough legal environment
Published Feb. 23, 2022
By Wei Wang
Read
Indiana Graduate Workers’ Coalition organizers plan to continue pressuring IU to recognize their union.
Graduate workers hold Work-In demonstration for unionization
Published Feb. 15, 2022
By Hali Tauxe
Read
The demonstration aimed to highlight the labor graduate students perform for the university.
Graduate student government asks university administration to meet and discuss unionization
Published Feb. 8, 2022
By Wei Wang
Read
The student government’s general assembly passed a resolution on Friday supporting graduate workers’ unionization.
Graduate students celebrate achievement as strike continues
Published May 12, 2022
By Natalie Fitzgibbons
Read
IU graduate students are facing a variety of emotions heading into the commencement ceremony on May 6.
Graduate workers vote to suspend strike
Published May 10, 2022
By Marissa Meador
Read
The IGWC-UE said they are preparing for a more disruptive strike in the fall.
Faculty vote to prevent firing of graduate workers
Published May 9, 2022
By Marissa Meador
Read
Faculty members voted to assert that no student would be fired for striking or failing to submit grades in a special meeting of the Bloomington Faculty Council May 9.
‘They’re asking us to compromise our ethics’: Faculty to consider no confidence vote for provost
Published May 4, 2022
By Marissa Meador
Read
IU faculty gathered April 26 to consider a potential vote of no confidence for Provost Rahul Shrivastav.
Ideas and terms to know about the IU graduate worker strike
Published May 3, 2022
By Nic Napier
Read
What is the Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition-United Electrical Workers (IGWC-UE)?
How graduate workers are using Canvas, or not, to support their unionization efforts
Published Oct. 11, 2022
By Christina Avery
Read
Due to concerns about administrative surveillance and academic freedom, IU graduate instructors told the Indiana Daily Student the IGWC-UE has had discussions about using Canvas in a way that gives graduate workers more control over how they teach courses.
IU administration is opposed to IGWC-UE union’s recognition. Faculty, graduate workers speculate why.
Published Oct. 4, 2022
By Natalie Fitzgibbons
Read
Anne Kavalerchik, a Ph.D. student in sociology and informatics and member of the IGWC-UE workers coordinating committee, said IU administration has not clearly stated why they are opposed to recognizing IGWC-UE as a union.
Graduate workers vote against a new strike
Published Sept. 26, 2022
By Carter DeJong
Read
The graduate workers voted in favor of granting the Coordination Committee the authority to set a new strike date.
Catch up on the IU graduate workers coalition before the strike vote
Published Sept. 25, 2022
By Haley Ryan
Read
Since the last strike ended in May, IU has announced policy changes that address the IGWC-UE’s five main demands, but has withheld union recognition.
IGWC-UE will vote to continue strike Sept. 25
Published Sept. 16, 2022
By Natalie Fitzgibbons
Read
The vote will decide whether to continue last semester’s strike which was suspended over the summer.
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Jacob Day

Design and development by Jacob Day

Jacob has worked at the IDS since 2022 as a web designer. Email Twitter