Student leaders: "We're voting yes"

In an email to graduate student-workers, current GSC President AJ Miller and Vice President Shayan Zahid expressed their support for voting YES to forming a union affiliated with United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America. They join former GSC president Madeleine Sutherland and thousands of graduate workers in voting YES for MITGSU-UE. The email is included below:

Disclaimer: This email was sent by AJ and Shayan in their capacity as graduate student-workers, and does not represent any official positions of the GSC.

Subject: Student Leaders Voting Yes

Dear graduate student-workers,

Today is a significant day that will shape the future of what defines our work as graduate students at the Institute. Our votes will determine whether we choose to form a union of graduate student-workers at MIT, specifically the MITGSU-UE. We have seen and felt the strong emotions this election has invoked in many of us and our peers as it is a big choice, but we are no strangers to making tough decisions.

A union is a process and a tool that gives us greater power to negotiate with MIT on the issues that affect us most. Our current model for advocacy has struggled to deliver the substantive changes we need because students have no real say in the decision-making. We believe there is a lot of value in collaboration, but true collaboration happens when we work together as equal stakeholders. Graduate students have not been sufficiently prioritized at MIT to address the challenges our peers face every day and how inadequate our current system is for those facing the most acute difficulties.

We will continue to advocate for our peers, work on the issues that unionization may not address, and fight for an MIT where students can focus on the research and education they are here for. Unfortunately, the GSC has limited resources, relies on the time of student volunteers, and requires those with power within MIT to take up the causes we believe in. Often, we have to not only convince those in the central leadership, but also the leadership across all of MIT's schools and departments. This is not sustainable nor fair to the students who do this work, many of whom sacrifice their personal and professional time for the benefit of all students.

If we ever face an administration uninterested in our well-being, if we want students involved in protecting our peers from harassment and discrimination in our work, and if we want a true decision-making stake in our futures - the path for us to take - is to unionize.

We hope that beyond the election we will all work together towards making a better MIT for everyone and continue to uphold the Institute's mission we all came here to pursue. It will take a lot of work to get to substantive change, but we remain hopeful for our graduate experience and that of the many students who follow us. We look forward to seeing every eligible student vote and ensuring our collective voice is heard. We encourage our fellow graduate workers to join us in voting yes for our union so we can have a voice at MIT and the right tools to build a better MIT for us all.

Voting will continue today Tuesday, April 5th from 9 am-1 pm, 2:30-3:30 pm, and 5:30-8:30 pm in Walker Memorial (Building 50).

Your fellow graduate students,
Adam "AJ" Miller
Syed "Shayan" Zahid