Organizer Testimonials

I support a union because graduate students are key components of a university ecosystem and a union can help ensure that students now and in the future can depend on livable wages and benefits and non-exploitative working conditions where they are treated with respect. — Jessica Leigh Hester

I support organizing a union because collective bargaining gets graduate students better deals when there is a power imbalance relationship. — Tanya Nesterova

I support organizing a union because we deserve a platform that advocates and acts for the best interest of graduate students. — Joshua García Colón

I support organizing a Union because my rent is going up, and my stipend isn’t. The administration is not paying students what their work is worth, or even on time, is not transporting them safely home from work, and is not providing them the space and tools they need to do good research. None of this will change until we are able to negotiate collectively for a better deal. — Martin Yepes

I support a union because graduate researchers are the money makers; we generate the cutting edge research that goes into grants which ultimately keep the lab running. We are vital to the innovation here at Hopkins. — Alexis Lowe

I support organizing a union because graduate students deserve better than what the university is currently willing to offer. — Jasmine Grey

I support organizing a union because we as students are dedicated to helping improve the world. Through our work and our empathy, we will achieve great things together. — Benjamin Koleske

I support organizing a union because our labor needs to be valued. — Alan Gutman-Wei

I support our union because it creates a powerful community of doctoral student workers who can advocate and win better research conditions for all of us. — Justin Rose

I support organizing a union because it’s time for the university to listen to and address our concerns instead of brushing our problems to the side. — Kristin Brig-Ortiz

I support organizing a union because it’s a step towards reinvigorating civil society and small-d democracy. I would also like to be paid a living wage. — Alli Abolarin

I support organizing for a union, because grad students deserve to have a say in their working conditions. — Rishi Bhandia

I support organizing a union because I believe graduate students are workers too! We deserve to be paid well, to have a transparent grievance process, and to have a greater say in how our university operates. I’ve seen unions meaningful improve lives of graduate students at our peer institutions and I want the same kind of representation for us. — Rothin Datta

I think a union would be a good tool to systematically improve the lives of graduate students. — Tommy Athey

I support the union because I believe in equity and fairness, and I have a moral obligation to myself and other students to do what I know is the right thing. This is the right thing. — Kwaku Quansah

I support organizing a union because we deserve a living wage for our work. — Mara Grace

I support organizing a union because we need to shift the power imbalance between University leadership and graduate students to achieve collective goals for excellence and student well-being. — Andrew Jopson

I support organizing a union because we have to advocate for ourselves as graduate students. — Kevin Pietz

I support organizing a union because we need a lasting vehicle for voicing our collective demands that can’t be brushed aside. — Conor Bean

A union makes sure we are compensated fairly and have safe working environments and effective grievance procedures. — Kristen Nixon

I support organizing our union because I believe in the power of collective action. Our union will make sure all the graduate workers across campus have a community to go to when they need support that values their struggle and needs. — Abigail Mulligan

I support organizing a union because we deserve the right to bargain with the JHU administration as equals. Only collective action can help us secure living wages, guaranteed on-time payment, workplace protections, and reliable facilities and transportation for all graduate students. — Alex Parry

I support organizing a union because workplace democracy is a key building block of a robust democratic society. — David Johnson

Only the best vibes! — Ime Essien

I support a union because we’re doing the majority of the research, teaching, and writing for this multi-billion dollar University, but don’t get the salary or respect we’re due for that labor. — Caleb Andrews

Graduate students deserve to be treated with dignity and to have lives outside of their work. A union will ensure that graduate students rights as workers are upheld and we are given what the university owes us for our hard work and research contributions. — Anna Word

I support organizing a union because everyone in this community should be able to have a meaningful say in shaping our working conditions! It’s what we deserve as teachers, researchers, and human beings. — Selena Anjur-Dietrich

I support organizing a union because too many graduate students experience poor working conditions with little support. The formation of a union will allow our voices to be heard as we work towards a healthier environment for all. — Annie Gao

I support organizing our union because we deserve a seat at the negotiating table when determining our pay, benefits, and research infrastructure. We do the research that goes into grants, conferences, and publications that the university benefits from, so we should have a say in how the university works for us. — Matthew Brown

I support organizing a union because I want all members in this community to feel supported. — Haley Moran

I support organizing a union because I believe we all deserve a living wage and to have representation when decisions are being made that affect our working conditions without fear of retaliation. — Janvi Madhani

I support organizing a union because all graduate students deserve stable and fair employment conditions. A union is the only mechanism to adequately address the needs of underserved grad students university-wide who would alone not have a strong enough to effect change. — Thomas Halloran

I support organizing a union because graduate students deserve agency at this university, both in shaping the environment in which we are teaching and doing our research, and in the character and decision-making of Johns Hopkins as an institution! — Peter Weck

I support organizing a union because there shouldn’t be a class barrier to getting your PhD! — Nico Swanson

I support organizing a union because we can achieve more for our research, our students, and each other when our shared interests are faithfully represented in the workplace. Voting to organize is both an expression of basic democratic principles and a commitment to the wellbeing of our coworkers. — Vincent Morano

We deserve fair compensation for the work that we do, including wages that keep up with ever-increasing costs of living, quality health insurance, and ample vacation time. Forming a union with a strong contract is the best way to ensure we receive what we deserve. — Nicole Carter

I support organizing a union because grad students are an essential part of Johns Hopkins and deserve to be heard and treated as such. — Rachel Williams

I support organizing a union because Hopkins relies on our labor while ignoring our basic needs. — Justin Otter

I support organizing a union because we need a way to advocate for our rights as workers. — Alishah Chator

I support organizing a union because we can be our best at research when we are treated with dignity and respect. — Jesse Liebman

I support organizing a union because institutions continuously prove that they do not take the best interests of trainees into account. — Matilde Castro

I support a union because graduate workers deserve a say in our working conditions and the only way we can get one is collectively! — Magdalene Klassen

I support organizing a union because I believe it is a great way to empower people. — Fujr Osman Ibrahim

I support organizing a union because I’ve seen the results of collective action at other universities and know we can have similar success here. As graduate students we are employees doing valuable work for the university. The dean at orientation said we are “the life blood of the university” and that we “fulfill its most essential mission”, so why aren’t we compensated and treated accordingly? — Noah Workman

I support organizing a union because graduate workers deserve fair and equitable working conditions. — Jayati Sharma

I support organizing a union because our institutions must be kept responsive to the needs of the people who compose them. — Elijah Blank

I support organizing a union because women and transgender people at Hopkins deserve a lot better. And because it’s hard out here! I need a living wage. — Jeanette Johnson

I support organizing a union because no one will advocate for graduate workers better than our graduate workers. — Wisam Awadallah

I support organizing a union because we deserve better. — Sean Hare

I support organizing a union because graduate workers deserve to be paid a living wage. — Emalie McMahon

I support organizing a union because students should have an organization. — Luqiao Xu

I support organizing a union because we all deserve equal rights and protections as researchers. — Jahnavi Pejavar

I support organizing a union because we deserve a comfortable and respectful working environment. — Iván Ruiz-Hernández

I support organizing a union because graduate workers are underpaid and overworked. — William Balmer

I support organizing a union because we deserve respect and dignity for all grads at JHU. — Andrew Eneim

I support organizing for our union because I want the best for the students here at Hopkins. I believe that for all the hard work we contribute, we should equally be valued and respected. I have also been personally affected by changes administration has made and believe that students need more of a say, rather than just being surprised by administration with changes. — Lindsey Dzierozynski

I support organizing a union because graduate students at Hopkins deserve a fair wage and for their concerns to be taken seriously. — Corey Simmerer

I support organizing a union because I believe university-wide solidarity is the only reliable option to protect the rights of current and future grad workers. — Frank Liu

I support organizing a union because I’m disappointed that others have lower stipends and worse conditions than me. ALL Hopkins grad students should be treated with dignity! — Danny Evans

Graduate students are highly skilled workers who produce the bulk of academic research at JHU. We deserve a living wage and a seat at the table when it comes to issues that affect us. — Elvar Bjarkason

I support organizing a union because together, we will have the power to make JHU a better place to work. — Alina Spiegel

I support organising a union because without proper protections, graduate labour is easily exploited, whether that is financially, emotionally, or otherwise. — Fearghus Horan

When a graduate student is in crisis, is experiencing abusive relationships with their mentor, financial struggles, or discrimination based on gender or race or nationality, the university will not be there for them. WE have to be there for each other. This is the best, most organized way we can advocate for ourselves and our peers, and protect and support each other in times of need. When something happens to me, I want my community on my side. So I want to be there for them. Always. — Sydney Ghoreishi

I support organizing a union because we should have input in how our research is supported without being told that nothing else can be done by the university. — Jacob Mitchell

Unionising is the first step in securing legal protection of our labour rights and guarantee of fair compensation for our work. — Sunny Liu