Penn State: Respect our vote and drop the appeal!

Dear President Bendapudi and Provost Sotiropoulos,

We the undersigned Graduate Assistants urge you to drop your legal challenge to the rights of Research Assistants to collective bargaining at Penn State University. In October 2025, Penn State Graduate Assistants, including TAs, RAs and ASAs, voted overwhelmingly in favor of forming a union, with 90% of those who cast ballots voting “yes.” Research Assistants are workers whose labor is critical to the research mission of the university. The university’s continuing willingness to waste time, energy, and resources attempting to block or delay Research Assistants’ collective bargaining rights is unacceptable.

We call on you and the Penn State administration to respect our democratic vote and promptly begin good-faith negotiations toward a fair contract for Research Assistants, Teaching Assistants, and Administrative Support Assistants that improves upon existing working conditions by addressing the following:

1. Fair pay and financial security
2. Comprehensive healthcare coverage
3. Protection from harassment, discrimination, and bullying
4. Support for international graduate assistants
5. Clear and fair work expectations
6. Support for parenting graduate assistants
7. Fair and easily accessible grievance process
8. Strong union rights and representation
9. Guaranteed paid vacation and leave
10. A safe and productive work environment