United Graduate Workers of UNM

The Members of the United Graduate Workers have spent years protesting for better pay and treatment by the University of New Mexico. After months of intense bargaining, all their hard work has paid off; the union approved its first collective bargaining agreement with the university on Friday, December 16, 2022.

Ahead of a final bargaining meeting later this week, members of the United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico held a rally on campus for the inclusion of research assistants within the union.

Tuesday was the third protest this year for the Members of the United Graduate Workers of the University of New Mexico who are protesting not only for higher wages but to stop a proposal that would increase insurance premiums.

Last month, KUNM reported on the continuing fight by graduate students at the University of New Mexico to include a non-discrimination in the union contract currently under negotiation. Yesterday, graduate student workers showed up on the first day of the semester to protest what they say is mistreatment and low-pay; and remind the administration how crucial they are to the university.

Last December, graduate students at the University of New Mexico saw their first victory when they were officially unionized; but that celebration was short-lived as union members protested Thursday for more protections in the contract under negotiation.

At the University of New Mexico, graduate workers and their supporters rallied Wednesday to call for the university authorities to bargain with them.

After a years-long organizing effort, graduate students at the University of New Mexico have scored a big victory. The New Mexico Public Employee Labor Relations Board certified a card count last week showing a majority of the school’s 1,547 graduate workers favor collective bargaining.