Labor unions have played a significant role in the history of the United States, advocating for workers’ rights and fair working conditions. The origins of labor unions on university campuses date back to the early 1900s, as universities began to emerge as major employers in the United States.  

The first labor unions on university campuses emerged in the early 1900s, as the number of university employees grew. The first union for university employees was established right up the road at the University of Illinois in 1905.  

The union was created to advocate for better wages and working conditions for the university’s non-teaching staff. Similar unions soon emerged at other universities across the country, including the University of California and the University of Wisconsin. 

During the 1930s, the Great Depression sparked a wave of unionization across the United States, including on university campuses. One of the most significant developments during this time was the creation of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), which was established in 1936.  

The AFT quickly became one of the most prominent labor unions on campuses in the United States, representing both university faculty and staff. The AFT played a significant role in advocating for better wages and working conditions for university employees.  

In 1940, the AFT led a successful campaign to secure collective bargaining rights for university employees in New York City. This campaign served as a model for other unions across the country and led to the creation of many new union locals on university campuses. 

The 1960s and 1970s saw a surge in student activism and the rise of the New Left. This period also saw a significant increase in the number of unionized university employees. The National Education Association (NEA) and the AFT became major players in university labor organizing during this time, and many new unions emerged on university campuses. 

One of the most significant labor disputes during this period was the strike by the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO) at the University of Michigan in 1975, when graduate student employees went on strike to demand better wages and working conditions. The strike lasted for several weeks and garnered national attention, leading to significant improvements in graduate student working conditions and compensation. 

During the 1980s and 1990s, labor unions on university campuses faced significant challenges. Many universities began to adopt anti-union policies, and the number of unionized university employees declined. However, the 1990s also saw the emergence of new union organizing strategies, such as the “living wage” movement, which sought to secure a minimum wage for all university employees that would enable them to support themselves and their families. 

In recent years, labor unions on university campuses have continued to play an important role in advocating for workers’ rights and fair working conditions. And that, hopefully, continues to hold true on the Eastern campus today.   

 Trent Jonas is an English graduate student. He can be reached at tcjonas@eiu.edu or 217-581-2812.