Welcome! If you’re reading this, that probably means you are a new member of the Graduate Labor Union – United Electrical Local 1105, or GLU-UE for short. GLU-UE (pronounced “glue U E”) is the member-run labor union representing graduate workers at the University of Minnesota. As a local of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America, we have the support of a national union representing workers in many industries, including graduate workers at other universities. As a member of GLU-UE, you have a say in how the union operates and you will be covered by a contract that protects and benefits all grad workers at the university.

The U works because we do! After years of subpar wages, supervisor abuse, and unsafe working conditions, UMN graduate workers decided it was time to band together to take more control of our workplace. We understand that we are most powerful together, and that’s why 97% of grad workers voted to form GLU-UE in April 2023. From September 2023 to December of 2025, our bargaining committee (or “BC”), comprising grad students representing programs across the University, met with the University of Minnesota’s bargaining team to negotiate our first contract. Our platform aims to codify protections and benefits that are insufficient or inconsistent across programs, including but not limited to:

  • Higher pay and lower fees
  • Comprehensive benefits
  • Transparency and security on the job
  • Anti-discrimination, anti-harassment, and employment grievance procedures
  • Increased support for international graduate workers

Now that our first contract is in place, we are bargaining over the inclusion of Fellows. Stay tuned for more information on Fellows Bargaining (Beginning in late March).

Interested in getting involved with GLU-UE?

  • You can contribute to the union right away by signing up to be a union member. Part of being a member is paying union dues, which are voluntary paycheck deductions that will go towards union actions and a hardship fund to support our members experiencing economic hardship. Signing a membership card and making a commitment to pay dues will be required to be eligible to vote on important union decisions like authorizing job action or ratifying our contract.
  • General Membership Meetings are open to all graduate students represented by GLU-UE and are a chance to discuss current issues, vote on proposals, and stay up-to-date on GLU-UE news, from bargaining updates to new procedures. These meetings are a great opportunity to ask questions, learn more about upcoming events, and stay engaged with your graduate coworkers. See the events calendar for dates.
  • If you’re interested in getting involved with organizing for GLU-UE, get in touch with a member of the Contract Action Team (CAT)! CAT is always looking for new members who are committed to connecting with and organizing their coworkers around the workplace issues that matter to them. Find CAT members in your Area here. 
  • Staying informed and engaged with the progress of bargaining and upcoming actions goes a long way. Follow us on social media (Bluesky, Instagram) to help spread the word about what we’re fighting for!

Helpful links

  • GLU-UE website
  • Bargaining Tracker: You can look back at the history of our BC negotiations for our first contract with summaries of each bargaining session, as well as full documentation of all contract proposals as we went through bargaining. 
  • Find your Division: Don’t know who you can reach out to with your questions and concerns in a union that spans the entire university? Start with a Division leader or Steward member in your division (a grouping of geographically or academically similar departments).
  • International graduate workers: We recognize that international students face unique challenges on top of those faced by grad workers more generally and it’s important to us that international students are represented in our contract and our leadership. Check here if you have any concerns about being involved with GLU-UE.