2024 Boston University strike

The 2024 Boston University strike is an ongoing labor strike in Boston, Massachusetts by graduate student and residential life workers at Boston University. The strike began on March 25, 2024, and was organized by the Boston University Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU) labor union, which is affiliated with the Service Employees International Union Local 509. It is the longest strike the university has experienced since a 1979 strike which lasted two weeks and four days. A second concurrent strike by the Boston University Residence Life Union (BU ResLife Union) labor union, also affiliated with SEIU 509, ran for four days starting on April 12, 2024.

Background
In 1979, Boston University experienced a strike as a result of backlash over policies by the university's president John Silber. The union behind this strike, the Boston University - American Association of University Professors, found itself decertified following a ruling NLRB v. Yeshiva University stating that university professors were not protected under the National Labor Relations Act of 1935. The university did not see another major strike until 45 years later following a 2016 National Labor Relations Board decision that allowed students to unionize.

Boston University Graduate Workers Union
The university's graduate workers began organizing efforts in late 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, in an effort to implement a safer workplace. Graduate workers then voted to affiliate with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 509 in mid-2021, which also represents adjunct professors, lecturers, and residential advisors. In September 2022, graduate workers began a successful public campaign of union authorization forms, advocating for improvements in wages, workload protections, healthcare and coverage, support for international students, and housing. In December 2022, BU's graduate workers voted 1,414 to 28 in favor of unionization, officially forming the Boston University Graduate Workers Union (BUGWU).

Contract negotiations
BUGWU sought negotiations with Boston University's negotiation team starting in July 2023, holding at least one session a month. The first meeting saw two articles proposed, with the total number since expanding to 40, of which three have been rejected and seven have been tentatively agreed upon as of April 2024. As of May 8th 2024, there were 13 temporary agreements and 18 pending articles with 14 of those being actively negotiated in the months of March and April—8 pending a counter-proposal from BU and 6 from the graduate workers union. During the May 8th negotiations BU counter proposed on one article and refused to counter/held their position on more than a third of the articles being actively negotiated, including important articles such as childcare and commuting benefits! Meanwhile, the graduate worker's union counter proposed on 3 articles.

BUGWU strike


Disagreements in pay, healthcare, and benefits prompted BUGWU to move towards voting to authorize a strike. The union moved towards a strike by citing the MIT living wage calculator's estimation of $62,000 a year to live in Boston as being significantly above their pay of $27,000-$40,000 a year. BUGWU also cited greater access to healthcare for workers and their dependents. They highlighted freedom from rent burden, 12-month stipends, disability and public health protections, and parent and caregiver protections. BUGWU held a strike authorization vote from February 28 to March 11, 2024, with 90% voting in favor. They also filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the NLRB against the university, totaling six as of April 2024.

Strike Begins
On March 25 at noon, BUGWU began their strike with a rally at Marsh Plaza, the center of the school's campus. This included speeches by graduate workers, Representative Ayanna Pressley, whose district includes the university, and Senator Elizabeth Warren, who represents Massachusetts. BUGWU stated that they would continue to picket on weekdays at both the Charles River and Medical campuses until their demands were met.

Support
Various people and groups have shared their support for BUGWU, including Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont, SAG-AFTRA, Boston City Council, State Representative Mike Connolly, the university's student government, and other graduate and teacher unions. The university's student government would also pass a resolution in support of the ResLife strike.

Attestation Forms and Weekly Stipends
Boston University's Office of the Provost updated their payroll policy as a result of the strike. Requiring all graduate workers to attest to working weekly in order to receive their stipends—effectively moving to a model where the default actions is to withhold pay. While there is no way for administrators, in most cases, to confidently know who is striking, pay has been withheld even from students who faithfully attest their hours. At one point, an administrator sent an email out to students in the medical sciences program with the names and immigration status of workers who did not complete the attestation, publicly revealing a protected status. In response, graduate workers union filed an Unfair Labor Practice with the NLRB against the university, alleging wage theft. BUGWU urged their workers not to fill out without speaking to union representatives.

Use of Artificial Intelligence
On March 28, 2024, the dean of the Boston University College of Arts and Sciences sent an email to staff and faculty suggesting the use of generative artificial intelligence to give students feedback on assignments in the absence of graduate workers. Multiple news organizations reported on the dean's suggestion, sparking backlash from both students and professors.

Intimidation, Harassment, Coercion
Graduate workers claimed instances of intimidation, surveillance, and harassment. Students putting up union fliers claimed they have been questioned by administrative workers, while departments like the Center for Computing & Data Sciences have enforced flier restrictions in their building according to claims by BUGWU. Graduate workers also reported that their private offices were “raided” for pro-union materials. Others reported that personal items have been taken as well, although the union states that the Dean of Arts and Sciences told department heads the raids would cease.

Claims of misrepresenting the state of the strike
BUGWU has claimed that Boston University has made a concerted ongoing attempt to misrepresent the state of the strike and make support for the strike seem low.

Boston University Residence Life Union
Resident assistants (RAs) began organizing in early 2023 after calls for the formation of a labor union in 2021. After holding a rally in support of the BU ResLife union in February 2023, it was announced that a majority of the 280 RAs had signed union authorization forms; a month later, 92% of the RAs voted to form a union and join SEIU Local 509. This union, composed of both undergraduate and graduate students, advocated for a $15 an hour wage, meal plans for non-dormitory workers instead of a $15 per week stipend, improved CPR and Narcan training, crisis intervention, mental health care, summer safety measures, and backpay.

Contract negotiations
The BU ResLife Union began contact negotiations with Boston University in December 2023, proposing 28 articles, with five having been tentatively agreed upon as of April 2024. The BU ResLife Union threatened to strike if their demands were not met by the university, holding a strike authorization vote between April 2 and April 11.

Strike Begins
After the strike authorization vote passed and bargaining was unsuccessful, the union began a four day strike, from April 12 to 15. The union stated that they would not fulfill ResLife responsibilities during the strike, such as being on-call or holding conflict mediation. The strike coincided with the 2024 Boston Marathon, a school holiday that sees many parties held.

University Reaction
During the ResLife strike, the university stated that they would continue to allow workers to access their rooms and dining plans, not charging them a daily rate. The university also stated that professional ResLife staff would fill in during strike.