University of Chicago Faculty Forward Deliver Petition Demanding a Fair Union Contract

On October 3, dozens of Non-Tenure Track Faculty at the University of Chicago gathered to deliver a petition demanding a fair union contract. SEIU Local 73 represents nearly 500 instructors in the Faculty Forward unit.

Faculty Forward members have been in negotiations with the University since March 2024, demanding wages competitive with peer institutions, visa protections for international workers, fair terms for writing instructors newly organized into the bargaining unit, expanded childcare benefits, anti-harassment protections, a fair and transparent accommodations policy, and workload protections. Nearly 400 Faculty Forward members signed the petition.

A crowd gathered before the petition delivery to rally and hear speeches from Instructors across different departments.

“$100 million was given to the University of Chicago last week for the Forum for Free Expression. Every day in the classroom, though, we teach our students how to engage in expression, and the University offers us a pay cut. This University is better than that, and everyone here is fighting for respect and value,” said Jessica Darrow, Associate Instructional Professor at the Crown School of Social Work.

“The University promised graduate students the Teaching Fellowship as a great opportunity, but recently, in orientation, said the role wasn’t a real job. The University needs to stand behind its commitment to education. Teaching Fellows teach a huge amount of core and department courses for undergraduate students. We deserve respect and better pay,” said Ella Wilhelm, Teaching Fellow, Humanities Division.

 “We’ve experienced a 15% inflation rate over the last contract. Rent is going up, mortgages are going up, and groceries are going up. Meanwhile, the President’s salary is going up. The top 30 administrators make more than our entire bargaining unit. If they want to have an Ivy Plus education, they need to pay for it,” said Charlie Cunningham, Assistant Instructional Professor, Mathematics.

“We reject UChicago’s narrative of austerity. With its $10 billion endowment, $1.2 billion in annual tuition revenue, and $100 million gifts like the Chicago Forum, we reject that they don’t have the money to pay Instructional faculty and to treat its staff with the dignity and respect we all deserve,” said Jason Grunebaum, Instructional Professor, South Asian Languages and Civilizations.

Afterward, the group marched up the steps of Levi Hall and handed the petition directly to a University of Chicago administrator.

Watch the live stream from the rally below.