Higher Education Organizing

Declining enrollment, cuts to NSF and NIH funding, changes to Title IV funding, international students in limbo... What does all that mean for your career?

Right now, university leadership and the board will make whatever decisions they perceive as the best for their bottom line. Unfortunately, that can mean leaving staff positions unfilled, reducing already tight budgets, and even laying off workers.

You deserve a say in the decisions that affect your job and your life. Your voice is heard when you build a union at your campus.

Wins by NYSUT Higher Ed Locals

NYSUT is the largest union representing higher education faculty, staff, and adjuncts across New York in over 150 local unions.

In addition to all SUNY and CUNY institutions and community colleges, NYSUT represents staff at NYU, Cooper Union, and other private institutions.

Some items bargained in their contracts include:

Tuition Benefits
Parking
Annual Salary Increases
Evaluation & Promotions
Professional Development
Stipends
Retirement Benefits
Health Insurance
Temporary Assignment
Family Leave
Course Cancellations
Job Postings
Seniority
Bereavement Leave
Grant-Funded Positions
Labor Management Committee
Summer Schedule
Inclement Weather
Travel
Life Insurance
Holidays
Salary Equity
Orientation
Vision & Dental

NYSUT Protects Higher Education from Attacks

“That’s what’s under attack: our freedom of speech, our freedom to think, to teach, to share with our students what we have learned, what we have researched, and what we know to be the truth.”

– Frederick Kowal, President, United University Professions

At the 2025 NYSUT Representative Assembly, the annual gathering where union delegates handle the business of the union, two resolutions were introduced to protect students and higher education institutions from federal attacks and funding cuts.

Additionally, the Protect Our Colleges and Universities from Federal Attacks resolution stresses the dire impacts of the current administration’s freeze on federal grant funding for lifesaving research, attacks on academic freedom, and slashing of student aid that will further suppress college access and enrollment.
The Power of a Union is All About Connection

NYSUT's in-state connections, our affiliations with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), the National Education Association (NEA), and the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) broaden our expertise and resources.

Connecting with your colleagues to negotiate a strong union contract on your campus means that your job security isn't thrown into question every time something else shifts in the higher ed landscape.
Fight Cuts to Federal Grant Funding
A significant number of higher education workers are funded by federal grants from agencies such as the National Science Foundation and the National Institute of Health. With more cuts to these programs being announced each day, the futures of many higher ed staff hang in limbo. At campuses with collective bargaining agreements, workers have input into how the university handles a loss of funding for their positions. At non-union campuses, university leadership makes these decisions unilaterally.
Defend DEI Work
Higher education professionals understand the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion work. However, extremists find it a convenient target to demonize higher ed and pull funding from its most vulnerable students. The staff upholding these values must be free to serve their students without intimidation.
Protect Academic Freedom
Academic freedom is a key component of higher education in a society that values education. It is critical that university faculty, researchers, and students are able to engage in a free exchange of ideas without retaliation or censorship from university leadership or from government overreach. A strong union contract vigorously defends the shared governance necessary for meaningful academic freedom.
Support International Students & Faculty
The future of international students and faculty in the US is in jeopardy. International students are being arrested and deported for exercising their first amendment rights. The federal government's constant changes to Visa status and regulations are creating a climate of uncertainty and fear. Unfortunately, students' tuition dollars account for a significant portion of revenue, putting university budgets in jeopardy. NYSUT affiliation helps to advocate for these students, and a strong union will ensure your job is protected when it comes time to balance the budget.
Address Burgeoning Student Loan Debt
A recent study estimated that approximately 80% of higher ed employees carry student loan debt, affecting their daily finances and their ability to save for retirement. NYSUT members receive free student loan counseling as well as education and updates on Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Many of our higher ed locals have tuition assistance and/or reimbursement in their contracts as an employment benefit.

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Higher Education Organizing

Declining enrollment, cuts to NSF and NIH funding, changes to Title IV funding, international students in limbo... What does all that mean for your career?

Wins by NYSUT Higher Ed Locals