Information Regarding the Notice of Election

Dear graduate students,

Earlier today, you received an email with a Notice of Election from the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). You received this notice because you are eligible to vote in next week’s election on Jan. 10-11.

The Notice of Election includes important information for all eligible voters in the upcoming election that will determine if a labor union, the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers of America (UE), will represent graduate students at Northwestern who provide instructional or research services for the University. Please read the Notice of Election and note the following dates, times and locations regarding when voting will take place:

DATES: Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023 and Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023

Evanston Locations

Parkes Hall – Room 122
1870 Sheridan Road, Evanston, Illinois 60208
10 a.m.-1 p.m. and 4-7 p.m.

Mudd Library – Large Classroom 2210
2233 Tech Drive, Evanston, Illinois 60208
10 a.m.-2 p.m. and 4-8 p.m.

Chicago Location

Lurie Medical Research Center, Room 1-165 - Gray Seminar Room
303 E. Superior Street, Chicago, Illinois 60611
10 a.m.-Noon and 4-6 p.m.

Voting will take place in person. There is no mail ballot option. Face masks and social distancing are required at all polling locations.

Even though there are multiple polling locations, you should vote only at the location to which you are assigned. The Notice of Election includes a list showing which departments/programs are assigned to each of the three voting locations, and you should vote at the location that corresponds to your department/program of enrollment. If you vote at the wrong location, your ballot will be “challenged,” which could result in it not being counted. Voting locations by department/program also are listed in the Election Details section of Northwestern’s graduate student unionization website.

Please keep in mind that the outcome of the election will be determined by a majority of votes actually cast. Not voting means that others will decide the important question of graduate student unionization for you, and you will be bound by this decision whether or not you vote. We urge you to review available information from Northwestern’s graduate student unionization website, UE and other sources, and to make your voice heard by voting.

The NLRB will tally the votes on Jan. 12. Regardless of the outcome of next week’s election, Northwestern will remain committed to supporting, mentoring and preparing our graduate students to be leaders in academia and in society.

Sincerely,

Kathleen Hagerty
Provost and Professor

Kelly Mayo
Dean of The Graduate School and
Associate Provost for Graduate Education