From: Provost Holden Thorp Sent: Thursday, August 31, 2017 11:00 AM To: Subject: Message from Provost - Union Organizing Attachments: Washington University Grad Student FAQs.pdf Washington University in Stlouis Dear Graduate Students: The University has received reports from some graduate students that they have been visited by organizers from the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) in academic buildings and labs on campus. At this time, no election petition has been ?led with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) The University is committed to ensuring that our graduate students are treated with respect and have a rewarding experience as they pursue their degrees. Graduate students are critical to the success of the University?s scholarship, research and teaching missions. Through collaboration with existing graduate student representative bodies, we have made some signi?cant changes to enhance your education and quality of life mentored teaching, career development, family-friendly policies, ombuds). There are undoubtedly other issues on which the University and graduate student leadership can partner together to generate positive change, and we are always open to hearing your ideas about how to make the graduate education experience even better. The union organizers are asking you to fundamentally change your relationship with the University and your graduate program. Before placing your individual interests in the hands of a collective and authorizing an outside entity to be your exclusive bargaining representative, we strongly encourage you to ask questions of both the SEIU and the University so that you can make fully informed decisions on these important matters. It is entirely your choice whether to meet with union organizers. Like any visitor to campus, they should respect your privacy, not interfere with your activities, and abide by campus building restrictions. During this period of organizing activity, it is important that you understand what the union is asking of you. A union?s ?rst step toward trying to become an exclusive bargaining representative of a group is to collect signed ?authorization cards.? The decision whether or not to sign an authorization card is an important one that should be given serious thought. Authorization cards are legally binding documents that are used by the union as evidence that individuals want to be collectively represented by it. If the union submits valid authorization cards from at least 30% of the relevant group, the NLRB will order an election on the question of whether the members of that group want to be represented by the union. The outcome of the vote will be binding on every student in that group, regardless of whether or how they voted. You need not sign an authorization card to be eligible to vote in an election if there is one. If you do sign a card, it remains valid for one year and cannot be unilaterally revoked; it becomes the property of the SEIU, which can submit that card to the NLRB without any further consultation with you. And if you do not sign a card, you will still be allowed to vote in any election involving your graduate 1 program. The University asks that you make an informed decision based on a complete understanding of the signi?cance and effect of authorization cards and the practical aspects of union representation. To that end, attached are some of the more frequently asked questions on this topic. The FAQs obviously do not address all questions or concerns you may have. As this process unfolds, we will continue to do our best to provide you with timely and accurate information for your consideration. More information about the NLRB process also can be found at The University is committed to providing you with a supportive environment in which to conduct your graduate studies and we greatly value the contribution you each are making to the University. You will hear more on this topic from us in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any speci?c questions. We invite you to continue your collaboration with us as we continuously explore ways to make your graduate education a ful?lling and rewarding expenence. Sincerely, Lt, .1 IF . .-.- want ,1 ?bl/1? Holden Thorp William Tate Provost Dean, Graduate School and Vice Provost for Graduate Education