Emory University’s graduate student union, EmoryUnite!, hosted a protest on Feb. 25 in support of ongoing contract negotiations with the University. Approximately 300 graduate and undergraduate students gathered outside the Claudia Nance Rollins Building to chant and listen to organizers give speeches.
EmoryUnite! co-Chair Everet Smith (27G) spoke first at the demonstration, discussing the arbitration process and listing the union’s demands.
“We’re here today to bargain for a fair contract,” Smith said. “But what does that mean, really? It is fighting for better wages. It means consistent or better health coverage.”
Protestors also chanted, “No delays, no excuses, no more workers’ right abuses,” “Union? Power!” and “Fists up, pencils down, Atlanta is a union town.”
Tasmiah Aziz (26PH) summarized the key issues and demands that EmoryUnite! is focusing on, including working conditions, wages and job protections.
“This is not just another protest,” Aziz said. “This is a loud and clear statement that we will not settle for less than what we deserve.”
The protest was held shortly before EmoryUnite! entered a bargaining session with the University later that afternoon.
EmoryUnite! has been negotiating with the University since April 2024 to finalize a contract. Co-Chair David Meer (26G) said in November that U.S. President Donald Trump’s presidency makes finalizing a contract with the University urgent. These concerns come after Trump’s first presidency, when the National Labor Relations Board appointees were largely anti-union. The risk of similar events transpiring again could affect the ability of unions like EmoryUnite! to finalize a contract, according to Meer.
Another speaker at the protest discussed how this problem is larger than Emory and brings together workers around the country.
“We’re going to build a strong contract,” the speaker said. “We’re going to be strong to fight for higher education, and we’re going to be strong to fight for our democracy. We’re going to be strong to fight for our workers, and we’re going to stand together.”
The speaker called Emory “the judge, jury and executioner” on all issues within the graduate schools.
“We need this power to hold Emory accountable with its own policies, to bring justice to underserved workers,” the speaker said. “A third party can parse out the facts from the fiction, the convenient lies for the reality of our affliction. This is a critical piece of any workers’ contract, and we need it now.”
The speaker also emphasized the importance of working alongside representatives from various student organizations and expanding EmoryUnite! to grow its bargaining power.
“When everybody pitches in, we get stronger,” the speaker said. “Every little corner of this campus, we got to get organized.”
Jacob Muscolino (he/him) (28C) is an assistant news editor at The Emory Wheel. He is from Long Island and plans to major in history and psychology. Outside of the Wheel, he is involved in Emory Reads. You can often find Jacob dominating the ping pong table, dissecting The New York Times, listening to the newest Taylor Swift album or exploring the next destination on his bucket list.
