LALS Statement of Solidarity with our Graduate Student Workers
LALS Statement of Solidarity with our Graduate Student Workers
This statement by the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies does not represent the University of Illinois Chicago, nor is it the university’s official position, nor does it represent the views of all faculty, staff, and students within the department.
April 30, 2026
LALS STATEMENT OF SOLIDARITY WITH OUR GRADUATE STUDENT WORKERS
The faculty of the Department of Latin American and Latino Studies stand in solidarity with our graduate student workers on strike. They are integral members of our community who perform essential labor for the department and for the university. They have now been working without a contract for more than a year.
Our graduate student workers have our respect and appreciation. They deserve more.
They deserve a new contract that provides them with a fair living wage, high-quality health care benefits, protections for international workers, and improved job security.
We call on the university to agree to a new contract with the Graduate Employees Organization that enables graduate student workers to labor with dignity while pursuing their degrees and contributing to UIC’s mission “to provide the broadest access to the highest levels of educational, research, and clinical excellence.”