RAs are now unionized!
Read below how it happened.
Research Assistants (RAs) were officially incorporated into GEO in 2025!
Why did RAs need to be unionized?
RAs were initially excluded from GEO’s bargaining unit in 2002 when the University administration sued to exclude them, claiming that RAs and Pre-Professional Graduate Assistants (PGAs) weren’t workers. In 2019, state law changed to reclassify RAs and PGAs as workers who were eligible to unionize.
How did RA unionization happen?
RA unionization planning started in 2023. The campaign launched publicly in August of 2024. Between August 2024 and May 2025, 35% of research assistants (more than 1,350 workers) signed cards and petitions stating that they wanted to be represented by GEO. These signatures were submitted to the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board (IELRB) in May 2025, which triggered a unionization election. On July 10, research assistants overwhelmingly voted to unionize with GEO, with over 95% of voters supporting GEO representation.
Finally, the RA Unionization Bargaining Team negotiated with the University administration to incorporate RAs into the existing GEO contract that covered TAs, GAs, and PGAs in August 2025. After two bargaining sessions, the parties reached agreement. The tentative agreement was sent to a GEO membership vote; 99% voted in favor of adopting the agreement, which meant that RAs had the same rights and protections as other grad assistants on campus!
Who made RA unionization possible?
Grad workers just like you! The RA Unionization Working Group was made up of rank-and-file organizers, stewards, and GEO officers who cared deeply about making sure all graduate workers at UIUC had union representation. Most of these organizers were RAs, but TAs, GAs, PGAs, fellows, and hourly workers all played a part.
These GEO members spent hundreds of hours visiting offices and labs to talk to RAs about why unionization mattered. They hosted town halls and coffee hours in their home departments to make sure workers understood the unionization process. And they stood up for their rights by signing GEO membership cards, signing the unionization petition, voting for their union, and voting for their tentative agreement.
Testimonials
Legal protection of our benefits
“Being a graduate research assistant enables me to explore cross-disciplinary projects in informatics and plant sciences. However, the day-to-day work is often unpredictable: hours in an office behind a desk to baking under the sun collecting field samples. Year-round health insurance coverage is crucial for me to balance my disability, mental health, and my ambitions as a student. It’s not enough that the university can choose to honor or revoke GEO contract wins for RAs - unionization of RAs will legally assure the university will continue to support healthcare for all grad workers.”
- Alexandria Tran, Informatics RA
Fair conditions and fair pay
“Unionization is important to guarantee RAs a living wage. Currently, we benefit from the university matching GEO contract wins; however, nowhere is this guaranteed forever. Additionally, without unionization, RAs cannot benefit from the formal grievance procedure when we receive late pay or notices of appointment. As a first year, I experienced many unexpected fees for my car, pest management in my apartment, and more. The university benefits from and needs the research run by RA labor; we need a union to fight for a living wage, good healthcare and fair working conditions!”
- Becca Cohen, Information Science RA
Support for research and development
“UIUC psychology is a highly ranked graduate program through impactful and innovative research produced by graduate RAs. Despite the prestige resulting from our labor, many graduate RAs in my department face substantial barriers to continue our research and graduate education including livable wages, lack of 11-month appointments, and adequate funding for research conferences. RA unionization is integral to a sustainable psychology department and more importantly livable conditions for our community of graduate students.”
- Raymond La, Psychology RA