Who would be going on strike?

All graduate students who provide research and instructional services to the Institute.

What is a Strike Authorization Vote (SAV), and why are we holding a SAV?

The strike authorization vote (SAV) gives our union’s bargaining committee the authority and bargaining leverage to call a strike if MIT does not come back to the negotiating table with a sufficient offer that meets our core demands. Despite several months of negotiations, over a dozen meetings with MIT, and major strategic concessions on opening positions by our union to accelerate the pace of negotiations, MIT still has yet  to meet us with a reasonable agreement at the bargaining table.

Based on the status of bargaining thus far (as of October 8th, 2026), we anticipate taking a strike vote for the following group of demands:

• Protections for international student graduate workers.

• Protecting our union shop.

• Fair stipend increases.

• Protecting our healthcare.

• Improved vacation & leave.

Given the present endgame state of bargaining, the strike authorization vote will also practically be a referendum on whether we should accept MIT’s then-current offer or reject their offer.

What will the results of the SAV mean?

A vote count of over 50% of all ballots submitted will administratively authorize our bargaining committee to call a strike if it is necessary to settle a contract.

A high percentage of members voting yes with a high participation of ballots cast will indicate to MIT that we are ready to strike if we must.  It will put  significant pressure on MIT to  settle our contract with a favorable counteroffer as soon as possible.

Would we go on strike immediately after the vote ends?

No, we will have a period of time of at least a week immediately after the vote during which we will announce the results of the SAV and finalize the logistics to launch our strike. This runway before the start of our strike will allow grads to accordingly prepare for striking (communicate with PIs, wrap up ongoing experiments, cancel bookings etc…). Additionally, this runway period will be a last-chance opportunity for MIT to bring a fair agreement before we go on strike.

We will be holding a last-chance “practice” picket on October 29th which is NOT a strike picket. The strike, if necessary, would take place AFTER the last-chance picket.

When will the results be announced?

We will announce the results immediately after ballots close. The balloting + announcement timeline is intended to give MIT enough time to consider the results before the next bargaining session and return with a favorable offer.

When can I cast my ballot?

Strike authorization votes may be cast between October 19th when balloting opens at 6PM and October 22nd at 8 PM (note: a previous communication incorrectly listed the closing time as October 21st, 6 PM).

How can I cast my ballot?

Secure, personalized ElectionBuddy ballot links will be sent electronically to your MIT email if you are subscribed to the Mailchimp mailing list. In the event that you cannot find the email, you will also be able to access your ballot by logging into the member portal (member-potal.mitgsu.org). You will need access to your MIT email to log into the member portal. Your ballot link is personalized, so do NOT share your link. You will only be able to cast one vote. Similar to our union’s officer elections, your specific voting choice (yes / no) will be anonymous.

Who can cast a ballot?

Only Members in Good Standing may cast a ballot in the SAV. This includes fellows who have signed their union card and currently pay voluntary dues. 

Agency fee payers, members not in good standing, or fellows who currently do not pay voluntary dues/have not signed a union card can sign up or reconcile any backdues to become Members in Good Standing at any time prior to or during the SAV period in order to receive a ballot and vote. 

If you are unsure of your membership status, you should email dues@mitgsu.org. 

I am a Fellow, would I go on strike?

Yes. Our ability to secure concessions depends on maximizing our strike’s leverage, and MIT cannot function without the work contributed by fellows. Fellows should participate in the strike — same as RAs, TAs, and Instructor Gs — by withholding their labor and abstaining from research and teaching work for the Institute. As part of our strike, Fellows should also refuse to take on any Teaching, Research, or other Assistantships if they are asked to work in spite of an ongoing strike (i.e., be “scabs”). 

Ultimately, even if a graduate worker does not hold an RA or TA appointment as a “Fellow”, they are nonetheless an integral part of graduate labor and deserve the same benefits and protections. Fellows perform research and teaching labor for MIT, and should be recognized for this work. 

What will the ballot look like / what are the voting options?

Same as other unions, the only ballot options will be “Yes” (to authorize a strike) and “No” (to not authorize a strike). If you wish to “abstain” you should NOT submit a ballot, which will have the same result (your ballot will not be counted towards the final result).

Can I change my vote after I submit my ballot?

No. Once you submit your ballot it will be anonymously logged in the voting

software and will not be able to be changed.

What happens if less than 50% of workers vote in favor of striking?

MIT would take this as a sign graduate workers are ready to accept their current offer and would be unlikely to give us a better subsequent offer. 

Is it possible to go on strike without a SAV?

No. Per our union’s constitution we must take an authorization vote before a strike.

What work should I withhold?

Any and all duties related to your teaching or research work. To be most successful as bargaining leverage, our strike must be broad, complete, and visible. Specific strike guidelines will be rolled out as a strike gets closer, and targeted strike plans will be developed by each department to take into account any unique circumstances that need to be addressed.

If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to a department organizer or bargaining committee representative to discuss further what striking in your department/area means.

What can I do to support contract negotiations prior to a strike?

Prior to a strike, you should continue your regular work but participate in all escalation actions such as the strike pledge, the strike authorization vote, and “practice” pickets. These activities tell MIT that we are not happy with their current proposals and want MIT to promptly meet our demands to avert the crisis of a strike. 

Additionally, preparation for strike is best done together with your coworkers; so please come to an organizer training and talk to your coworkers about going on strike with you.

When would we go on strike?

The exact date would be in part dependent on MIT’s responses at the bargaining table, but we would not go on strike until after MIT has a chance to respond in negotiations to our “Last Chance” Practice Picket on October 29th.

What can I do to support contract negotiations during a strike?

During a strike you should be present for shifts at a pre-scheduled picket line outside your worksite and responsive to your Picket Captain to coordinate logistics. You can also support the strike with organizing work, contributing to strike coordination, supporting mutual-aid projects, or talking/calling/texting your coworkers asking them to join a picket line. Our leverage during the strike is based on how complete and visible our strike activities are: maximal leverage will decrease the amount of time needed to settle our contract and resolve our strike.

What are my rights during a strike? Can I be punished for striking?

Under labor law, you cannot be fired for striking. There is also safety and power in our numbers; MIT cannot punish all 3000+ grad workers. At Harvard, not a single grad worker was disciplined or fired for their strike participation this spring. Thousands of grad workers at other universities have also participated in strike activities over the past five years.

In the unlikely event that you are retaliated against for your strike participation, you should immediately contact your GSU department Chief Steward or send an email with any relevant details to contact@mitgsu.org.

Is it safe for international workers to strike?

Yes. International workers have all the same worker rights and protections as US citizens.

In nearly 40 years of graduate employee unionization, there is no reported instance of any international student having problems with the law or with their visa status as a result of their union activity, including striking. It is against the law for the Institute to retaliate against you for striking. 

Can I do some but not all of my work during the strike? 

Continuing to do some work during a strike, or “partial striking”, undermines the impact and leverage of a strike. Strikes are strongest when we stop all our work.

Additionally, a partial strike is less legally protected than a complete  strike. For example, if you work for 2 out of 8 hours in a day, you are NOT typically protected by labor law from missing the remaining 6 hours. 

Can I continue making academic progress (e.g. classes, exams, dissertation/thesis)?

Yes, as long as it is unrelated to the deliverables of your bargaining unit job description. For example, according to our contract, RAs are expected to produce “scholarly journals and research reports”, which likely includes your thesis work.

A strike constitutes a full stoppage of any activities that provide instructional and research services to the Institute. MIT will continue attempting to use an arbitrary “academic” distinction to undermine our collective strike leverage to deny us a fair contract. Don’t fall for it.

As such, try to plan your qualifying exams, thesis proposal, or other program equivalent so they will not overlap with a strike. The lead times necessary for some of these things are why we are having these conversations in advance. We understand that in some situations this may not be possible. Please continue discussing with an organizer in your department about your situation and they should be able to help you more.  

What happens to my pay and benefits?

MIT may suspend our pay while we are striking. Many graduate workers cannot afford to miss a paycheck. Reddressing this financial precarity in the long-term with wage increases and a strong union is exactly why we would go on strike. A strike is, in part, a sacrifice, and is a last resort measure because of how disruptive it can be to our lives. We will fight for any contract agreement to include retroactively addressing lost pay and extra healthcare costs. We recommend starting to save money in case of a strike. 

What is a strike fund? How does it work?

A strike fund is meant to support workers experiencing hardship during a strike so they are not forced to return to work due to lack of pay. It is a hardship fund and is not meant to replace lost wages. 

We have a Local strike fund and the UE will support us with its national strike fund. We will also raise money on our own, both by continuing to pay union dues and by reaching out to local businesses, other unions, politicians, non striking workplaces etc. It is also recommended to start saving money in case of a strike.

Anyone experiencing hardship because of lost wages may apply for assistance from the strike fund.

How will the strike end?

Our membership decides when to stop striking through a contract ratification vote, which occurs when our union’s bargaining committee decides that the set of proposals agreed to at the table is substantial enough (a “tentative agreement”) for a membership vote. Bargaining will continue throughout a strike until our bargaining committee reaches such a tentative agreement with MIT on the full contract and recommends it to membership for a ratification vote. The voting options will be to accept the contract or continue the strike. A majority membership vote to accept and ratify the contract would end the strike. 

Analogous to the Strike Authorization Vote, all dues-paying members of our union would be eligible to participate in this ratification. 

How long will the strike last?

As long as it takes to settle a fair contract. Once we go out, we should be prepared to stay out until our demands are met and a new contract is ratified by a membership vote.

Our ultimate goal is to settle a fair agreement as quickly as possible, which will be facilitated by a strike that is as large and impactful as possible. The bigger the crisis we are able to create, the faster MIT admin will have to move to resolve the strike with a better offer.

Ultimately, members will be in control of how long a strike goes because members will democratically decide when to end the strike. 

How do I minimize damage to my research while on strike?

Ask yourself, “what would I do if I were planning a vacation?” We are planning this strike in advance of when it might start, to enable you to make plans to avoid catastrophic setbacks to your research as much as possible. 

• If your research consists of multi-week long experiments which can’t be interrupted, avoid starting such work in the weeks leading up to the strike.

• If you have cell cultures etc. that you are responsible for maintaining and you can deep freeze them before a strike, plan to do that. 

• If you work with live test subjects, see the next section.

What if I work with animals or other live test subjects?

The best way to minimize harm is to plan ahead as much as possible, for example by contacting staff who would be taking care of animals in your absence in advance and ensuring your work is well labeled. Think about what you would do if there were emergencies or you were on vacation. Weigh the cost of redoing an experiment against a contract which provides fair compensation, adequate healthcare, international worker protections, just cause employment standards, and a strong, lasting union for generations of graduate students to come. The Institute is also responsible for maintaining animal welfare and it does not ultimately rest on you. 

If your strike plans involve having non-graduate lab staff handle things in your absence, strongly consider only leaving them essential things to maintain so they are not overworked.

Preparing for a strike will look a little different for everyone depending on your research and the animals you work with. If you have additional questions about managing animal care with a strike, please contact contact@mitgsu.org and include “[Strike questions]” in the subject line. 

How, if at all, should I participate in recruitment and orientation events?

If an event is before the strike:

• Tell incoming graduate students what is happening at the bargaining table (e.g., MIT does not want to give graduate workers a living wage, take common sense steps to protect international grads, and is trying to union-bust) and urge them to sign up as a member and participate in collective activities such as strike pledges.

• If interacting with prospective grads, say that you are unable to recommend they work at MIT as a research institution unless the Institute settles this contract with all the demands that you and your coworkers are making. 

• If faculty raise concerns about negative advertising, tell them that the most effective way to address those concerns is to urge MIT’s administration and bargaining team to avoid a strike by agreeing to graduate workers’ demands.

If an event is during the strike:

• Refuse to participate in any and all recruitment activities.