About WUGWU
Who we are
The WashU Undergraduate & Graduate Workers Union (WUGWU) is an independent organization of student workers at Washington University in St. Louis. We first began organizing in 2016. We are research assistants, teaching assistants, lab assistants, lecturers, desk workers, and call center and recreation center workers, among other occupations. In other words, we represent all kinds of student workers at WashU.
We are currently an unrecognized union. This means that the Washington University administration will not collectively bargain with us. Therefore, we must address issues that could otherwise be negotiated in the collective bargaining process (e.g. better pay, improved child care subsidies, a grievance procedure for cases of xenophobia and exploitation, etc.) through issue-based advocacy and direct action campaigns while we organize to secure a collective bargaining agreement or union contract.
Student worker’s unions across the country are winning big through their union contracts. At places like Harvard, Columbia, USC, and NYU, unions have won increased wages, improved benefits, protections for international students, and more. Help us make that a reality at WashU!