Our History

A group of grad workers
Grad workers with signs
A group of grad workers on steps with a hand painted UMGWU sign
Two grad workers with a "union yes" sign and a dog wearing a UMGWU shirt
A group of grad worker organizers and a UMGWU logo
A group of grad workers with UAW signs
A group of grad workers on some steps
A group of grad workers painting signs
A group of grad workers working
Union yes signs
Some grad workers with Mike Tipping
A group of grad workers
A group of grad workers
Some grad workers marching with signs
Aurora Green standing on a stool and talking into a megaphone with a "Contract now" sign
A sign that says "Solidarity UMaine Grad Workers"
A group of grad workers with a hand-painted UMGWU sign
four grad workers with signs
A crowd of grad workers in front of Williams hall
A line of grad workers in front of an AFL-CIO bus that says "Better in a Union"
A group of grad workers with the UMGWU banner
grad workers in a meeting
The UMGWU banner being held by grad workers with UAW signs
Three grad workers in red shirts
two grad workers with signs
Some grad workers marching with signs from behind
A group of grad workers with union signs
A grad worker with a sign that says "UM BE FAIR"
A group of grad workers
Some grad workers marching with signs
Grad workers standing on steps with UAW signs
A group of grad workers from behind
A group of grad workers on steps with a hand-painted "contract now!" sign
A birdseye view of grad workers working
Eric Brown, Amanda Gavin, and Nik Brocchini with a UAW sign

Our union began in response to widespread teaching assistant (TA) mistreatment. TAs were routinely overworked and had little to no support when workplace issues arose. When Graduate workers attempted to resolve these concerns through departmental channels, it became clear that graduate student workers in the University of Maine System (UMS) needed more protections than UMS would provide.

In response, we began organizing ourselves across departments and universities in the spring of 2022. Graduate workers all over the Universities of Maine connected and shared our concerns about our working conditions- everything from economic struggles and healthcare issues to workplace safety and equity. After months of coordination and relationship-building, we chose to affiliate with the United Auto Workers (UAW) because of their strong history in successful higher-education organizing. Our partnership with the UAW has been an invaluable resource for our union as we have and continue to build greater power in our workplace.

In February of 2023, after extensive groundwork organizing, and with growing support from Maine Legislators, the Maine labor community, and other allies, we launched our union authorization campaign to democratically demonstrate our overwhelming demand  to unionize. Over 500 graduate workers signed cards within the first month, securing majority support and an enthusiastic mandate to improve our workplace through union representation.

On March 24, 2023, we held our first rally at Martin Luther King Plaza on the UMaine Orono campus. Shortly thereafter, we called on UMS to voluntarily recognize our union. After sustained pressure and multiple collective actions, UMS formally recognized our union in Fall 2023, and we transitioned into our first contract campaign. We had won a seat at the decision-making table, and it was time to get to work. 

We elected five of our fellow Graduate Workers to our first bargaining committee who volunteered countless hours to negotiate our Collective Bargaining Agreement with UMS. As negotiations dragged on, some committee members graduated. Each time a vacancy arose, new leaders stepped forward to ensure our collective voice remained strong.

We bargained with UMS for 765 days to secure historic wins in our first union contract. Throughout this period, UMS repeatedly stalled negotiations, delayed providing required information (resulting in a prohibited practice charge filed by our union and which the Maine Labor Relations Board upheld), and hired a lawyer from the notorious union-busting law firm Littler Mendelson (the same law firm that represented Starbucks and Amazon in anti-worker campaigns) to be their team’s lead negotiator. 

Despite these obstacles, we continued organizing and building Graduate Worker power every day of the week, every week of the month, and every month of the semester for over two years (on top of our academic and professional responsibilities!). Every step in our campaign, demanding the kind of contract we deserved, grew our union stronger. Our power throughout this first contract campaign has been inspirational, and the wins we secured reflect the dedication and solidarity of our members.

On Sunday, December 14, 2025, the UMS administration added their final signature to our first tentative agreement. On December 17, 2025, 99.3% of Graduate Workers who voted agreed 483-3 to ratify this agreement. The UMS Board of Trustees voted to approve this ratification on January 26, 2026.

Our first contract expires three years from the date of ratification. It will take continued dedication, organization, and demonstration of our tremendous power to maintain and expand upon our previous wins. While this summary captures only part of our journey, it reflects a core truth that has guided us from the beginning: our power comes from collective action. The victories we have secured were not given to us, they were won through sustained organizing, shared leadership, and an unwavering commitment to one another. We know that a rising tide lifts all ships. 

As we move forward into enforcement of our contract, future contract campaigns, and continued growth, we carry this history with us as both a reminder and a call to action: Graduate Workers at the Universities of Maine have shown time and time again that when we fight together, we win, and this union will continue to grow stronger through the participation, care, and courage of our members. 

 

Land Acknowledgement

Much of what we know today as Maine constitutes the homeland of the Wabanaki peoples. “Acknowledgement” statements are no stand-in for real struggle towards liberation, land back, self-determination, and economic and other justice for Wabanaki peoples in Maine. 

Our responsibility as a union is not just to our members, but to our communities. To learn about ways we can stand in solidarity with Wabanaki Nations and community members, please visit the Wabanaki Alliance Website.