The United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE) has announced their intent to hold a strike authorization vote if an agreement is not reached by April 10, 2025. Pending the resolution of the strike authorization vote, a strike may follow by members of the UE. Graduate students with appointments as teaching assistants (TAs), graduate research assistants (GRAs), research assistants (RAs), and graduate assistants (GAs) at the Ithaca, Geneva, and Cornell Tech campuses are members of the UE bargaining unit. Cornell respects the right of assistants to engage in lawful strike activities.

This page provides guidance on guidelines and staffing needs in the event of a strike, as well as FAQs for all those who may affected by a strike. 

Guidelines/Staffing Needs

In the event of a strike, we expect that some members of the bargaining unit – TAs, RAs, GRAs, and GAs at the Ithaca, Geneva, and Cornell Tech campuses – will strike and not report for work, as is their legal right. We also expect that other members of the bargaining unit will continue to work during the strike, as is also their right. The choice belongs to each individual and a supervisor must respect a graduate student worker’s decision and avoid inquiring about that decision.

Work Expectations During a Strike

This section provides guidance on the rights exercised by employees who are outside of the UE bargaining unit to work during a strike.

Employees covered by a collective bargaining agreement that contains a valid “no-strike” clause limiting sympathy strike activity are expected to report for work. 

Similarly, all employees not covered by a collective bargaining agreement will be affected as follows: 

• Non-exempt employees who choose not to cross a picket line will not be eligible to receive their regular hourly compensation. 
• Exempt employees who choose not to cross a picket line will have their pay reduced accordingly.

If you have any questions about an employee’s failure to report for work due to strike activity on the part of UE-represented workers, please contact your local college or unit HR representative.

Stipend Guidelines

The university would assume that all members of the bargaining unit are not working during the strike and will therefore not receive stipend payments unless they indicate otherwise through attestation. For the duration of a strike, each member of the bargaining unit would be prompted to attest whether they are continuing to carry out their assistantship responsibilities. 

• Assistants who do not attest that they are working are not eligible to receive their regular stipend.
• Assistants who attest that they are working should report for their duties as usual.