RESEARCH FUNDING

By forming a union, academic workers can more effectively advocate for increased funding for science and research on the state and federal level by joining with academic workers at Columbia University in NYC, at the University of California, University of Washington, University of Connecticut, University of Massachusetts, New York University and California State University. For all of us, there is a direct connection between federal support for education and research and our career progress, wages, benefits and job security.

Since January 2025, the federal government has threatened research funding from the NIH, NSF, DOE, and other federal agencies. Like at many other large research universities, thousands of graduate workers at Drexel do critical work to contribute to cutting-edge scientific research and are supported by funding from federal research grants. Cuts to federal research funding threaten both the livelihoods of graduate workers across the country as well as critical, life-saving research breakthroughs. While university administrations have done very little to oppose these efforts, UAW members and other unionized academic workers have been leading the fight to oppose these cuts and protect research and higher education. 

Through direct action, political organizing, and litigation, UAW members have been able to bring public awareness to this issue and reverse the cancellation of many research grants. Unionized academic workers across the country have organized phone banks to congressional representatives, large demonstrations and rallies on university campuses and in major cities, town halls with elected officials, and contributed to multiple lawsuits against cuts to federal funding. 

These efforts have been having a major impact: In recent months, Congress has largely rejected massive proposed budget cuts to federal research agencies. In California, UAW members have been instrumental in pushing forward a plan to create new state funds for scientific research to make up for federal funding cuts. Additionally, thanks in part to a lawsuit filed by UAW and demonstrations led by unionized grad workers, a U.S. district judge ordered billions of dollars in federal funds be restored to Harvard. When grad workers come together to advocate for our rights, we win!

Learn more at killthecuts.org