MYTHS

Myth: Workers who support unionization efforts can be fired or otherwise reprimanded.

Fact: It is illegal to discourage unionization or punish workers who support it. In addition, having a union will provide grad workers with legal resources to address grievances, discrimination, and more with their employer. 

Myth: Unions are outside groups that will force changes on Penn State, even if grad workers don’t want them.

Fact: Graduate workers ARE the union. Grad student union reps (i.e. graduate workers who volunteer their time) will communicate the needs and wants of grad student workers to administration. Unions are democratic groups of organized workers, not outside groups that impose changes without input from workers.

Myth: Unions protect workers who slack off.

Fact: A union contract protects workers’ rights and ensures fair treatment. However, it also requires workers to uphold reasonable duties and responsibilities. Unionized workers are still required to perform their duties, they just do so with better wages, more rights, and less fear of discrimination or unfair treatment. 

Myth: Union dues are too expensive.

Fact: While graduate workers will pay union dues, the financial benefits that come from being a union member always (in the history of graduate unionizing in the United States) outweigh the cost of dues. Graduate workers at American University got a 10% raise after unionizing, and at Michigan State, the minimum stipend was increased by 5%. Outside of pay raises, grad workers also got other financial benefits, like 2 weeks paid vacation at Harvard. 

Myth: A union will force grad workers to go on strike.

Fact: A common misconception is that voting “yes” on a union means voting “yes” to going on strike. This is not the case. Being in a union would allow grad workers to go on strike if they voted to do so, but a union will never force grad workers to. Remember, grad workers are the union, and union members get a say in union decisions.