Joint Statement of Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees and Georgetown University on Union Election Agreement

WASHINGTON—Today, Georgetown University and the Georgetown Alliance of Graduate Employees signed a landmark private agreement that will allow eligible graduate student assistants the opportunity to vote on whether they would like to be represented by a union. The agreement—among the first of its kind—provides for a union election outside the scope of the National Labor Relations Board.

In response to today’s agreement, the following joint statement was issued by Robert M. Groves, Georgetown University’s executive vice president and provost; Dr. Edward B. Healton, Georgetown University School of Medicine’s executive vice president for health sciences and executive dean; Hailey Huget, GAGE elections negotiations committee member; and American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten.

“Today’s agreement reflects our shared belief in the important role that graduate student assistants play at Georgetown and our commitment to giving them a stronger voice as members of our community. The election agreement creates formal election procedures, voter eligibility guidelines, and a dispute resolution mechanism to help guide the election and collective bargaining processes. Georgetown and GAGE will work together to ensure a free and fair election that encourages dialogue and gives eligible graduate student assistants the opportunity to decide if they would like to be represented by a union.”

Read the full agreement here.