College students and staff at universities across Minnesota are organizing new unions

New unions are forming at Minnesota colleges, including the University of Minnesota and Macalester College, as workers react to federal policy changes and inflation concerns. Medical residents and graduate students at the University of Minnesota are mobilizing for better wages and working conditions, while Macalester staff have also organized around similar issues. Jeremy Meckler, a member of Macalester's staff union, highlighted the precarious nature of professional staff positions without tenure as a key motivator. The trend reflects a national increase in higher education unionization, which gained momentum during and after the pandemic. The Biden administration's withdrawal of a 2021 Trump-era rule has led to a rise in unionization among student workers at private colleges, according to union leaders.

The University of Minnesota's graduate student union secured a $27 minimum wage in their recent contract, a major achievement after decades of organizing. They also negotiated improved health insurance coverage and access to gender-affirming care. As unions continue to form, workers are pushing for a greater voice in their institutions and the value of their labor.