Resident Advisors at the University of Pennsylvania win their union

Philadelphia, PA – September 28th, 2023 — The Resident Advisors at the University of Pennsylvania and United RAs at Penn celebrate an astounding victory after RAs overwhelmingly vote in favor of unionizing. The final vote count was 87% voting in favor of unionization (142 yes, 22 no), establishing the first-ever student worker's union at the University. This achievement marks a significant milestone in their fight for representation, improved working conditions, and collective bargaining rights for student workers at the University of Pennsylvania. RAs have organized a grassroots effort to form a union for over a year, where they have knocked on hundreds of doors and held thousands of one-on-one conversations to mobilize their coworkers. 

On September 27 and 28, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) held a two-day election where RAs had the opportunity to vote on the question of unionizing. This comes after College House and Academic Service (CHAS) and the University administration refused to recognize Resident Advisors' status as workers under federal labor law and challenged their supermajority-backed petition for a union election. The NLRB vehemently rejected the University’s challenges in the agency’s final decision that scheduled this week’s election. On six occasions in the decision, the NLRB stated that the employer “offer[ed] no legal support” for their arguments.

The Resident Advisors and Graduate Resident Advisors (RAs/GRAs) went public with their unionization efforts in March of 2023, efforts that have since been met with resistance and unsuccessful union-busting activity from the University administration. Rather than voluntarily recognizing the union or agreeing to an anonymous election for RAs to voice their stance on unionization, the University embarked on a five-month legal challenge that has ultimately served as a delay tactic. Of note, the University was represented in the hearing by union-busting law firm, Cozen O’Connor who, according to their website, “help employers avoid unionization” and “manage labor relations with a clear eye toward the bottom line”. The law firm also donated at least $135,000 to Republican committees and politicians in just the recent midterm elections alone, documented in publicly available campaign finance disclosures. 

Resident Advisors feel empowered by the outcome of the union election, and are looking ahead to the process of collective bargaining. Conor Emery, a second-year RA and organizer with United RAs at Penn, shared his reaction to the victory. “I feel extremely proud of the G/RA community for fighting for our ability to directly influence our working environment.  I’m excited to see the changes that will come to the RA position through our equal place at the bargaining table.”

OPEIU Local 153 has supported Resident Advisors’ organizing efforts throughout the course of the campaign to unionize. OPEIU was the first union in the nation to unionize RAs at a private university and has won five RA union campaigns at universities across the country prior to this election.  “The RAs at Penn made history with their landslide vote. They proved that standing up for themselves as workers at Penn is possible, and it is possible to win big. They join a growing movement of student workers unionizing and transforming higher education and the labor movement. We are thrilled they are joining our local along with RAs at Tufts, Barnard, Fordham, RPI, and Wesleyan, who are all showing the power of a union,” said Scott Williams, representative of United RAs at Penn with OPEIU Local 153. 

Second-year undergraduate, and first-time Resident Advisor, Omar Elsakhawy, says, “The election outcome was extremely exciting but also very predictable. Most student workers want to have their voices heard and the power to fight for better working conditions. This is a historic stride that sets a precedent for future undergraduate organizing efforts.” 

RAs at Penn are now looking ahead to elect a bargaining committee, propose a fair contract, and hope that the University comes to the table to engage RAs in good-faith collective bargaining.