Our Penn State Faculty Alliance is a member-driven campaign to win a faculty union at Penn State University, protect the rights of our fellow faculty members on the job, and preserve a safe learning environment for our students.
Show your support for Penn State's international scholars by signing PSFA's statement of solidarity.
PSFA is affiliated with SEIU Local 668 and part of a growing labor movement in higher education. As we continue to see the federal government attack higher education, including students, scholars, and the institutions themselves, higher education unions of faculty, graduate workers, and staff are working to resist these attacks.
Inside Higher Ed recently published an article about the rising actions of higher education labor unions to defend our students and universities. Through open letters, petitions, lawsuits, and direct action, higher education workers are coming together to use their collective power.
SEIU has joined with other labor unions to stand up to these attacks in court, on campus, and in the public discourse. Earlier this year, SEIU Local 509 member, Rumeysa Ozturk, a graduate student at Tufts University, was detained by ICE on her way to break her Ramadan fast with friends. With help from her union and a community of support, Rumeysa was eventually released but her case continues. Her fellow union members continue to stand in solidarity with her and are committed to protecting our fundamental First Amendment rights.
Can International Faculty members join the union?
Yes. Regardless of immigration status, international faculty members have the right under Pennsylvania law to come together and organize with their colleagues, form a union, and collectively bargain with their University.
Do International Faculty members have the First Amendment right to free speech and association?
Yes. U.S. citizens and international scholars with work visas have the right to free speech, which is protected by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution.
How can faculty protect international students?
Many faculty have reached out to PSFA with questions and concerns about protecting international students and fellow faculty. Folks have been concerned about the lack of guidance and transparency from the administration. As a faculty union, we have come together to demand the University provide information and adequate training, address our concerns and live up to the values of equity, inclusivity and a commitment to protecting freedom of speech and expression for all.
Can the University legally revoke my visa for participating in our faculty union?
No. It is illegal to fire someone in retaliation for union activity. This is protected under the First Amendment and Pennsylvania law. There is more safety and solidarity in numbers and public support. As a public union supporter you are engaging in concerted union activity.
Can union membership impact my current or future visa?
No. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) cannot ask you questions about your union membership or participation in lawful union activity. In addition, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recognized the importance of enforcing labor laws and signed an agreement with the Department of Labor (DOL) that states it is essential to ensure proper wages and working conditions for all covered workers regardless of immigration status. It is your right to belong to a union, and being a union member cannot and should not affect your visa application.
How can our union help protect international faculty members?
There is safety in numbers and the solidarity of a union. By forming a union at Penn State, faculty members will have a collective voice to address our common concerns and negotiate with the Administration to improve our working conditions, including compensation and benefits, and clarify opaque policies.
