FAQ for Grad Workers
See below for answers to questions that may be of interest to graduate workers.
Email us if you have questions that aren’t answered below!
GSOC (The Graduate Student Organizing Committee), is the labor union for grad students working under United Auto Workers (UAW) Local-7902. NYU-GSOC is comprised of over 3,000 Graduate Students working at NYU.
Fun Fact: GSOC was the first Graduate Student Union to win recognition at a private university in the United States!
The union represents graduate workers at NYU, such as:
- Research Assistants
- Teaching Assistants
- Graduate & Course Assistants
- Adjunct Instructors (before their 7th year)
- Hourly administrative staff
NYU carves out certain job titles and programs. Please see here for more details to see if this impacts you. Also make sure to check your appointment letter — if it says you are part of GSOC-Local 7902, then you’re covered by the union!
Congratulations on your new job and welcome to GSOC!
- Make sure you received an appointment letter, union card, and welcome letter from your hiring department. See here for more info about these documents. You should received all of these before your first day on the job. If you don’t email us so we can ensure this is fixed.
- Sign your GSOC-Local 7902 card. Signing your card is a mandatory condition of your employment so make sure to submit it! You can email your card to mail@actuaw.org and gsoc@actuaw.org.
- Review the “Benefits” tab to learn about all the benefits you receive and take advantage of them!
- Get involved! GSOC is run by grad workers for grad workers. Every email, text, social media post, is done by grad students, just like you! Learn how to get involved here.
- Email us with any questions or concerns. Something seems off with your new job? Not getting paid on time? We’re here to help!
Yes! If you are working a GSOC-eligible position, signing your card is a mandatory condition of your employment, which means everyone needs to sign one.
While it’s required to sign a card, you choose whether you join GSOC or not. If you would like to join, make sure to fill out the card completely, including both signature sections. Please see here for more information about how to sign your card.
Please email your completed card to: mail@actuaw.org and gsoc@actuaw.org
As a condition of your employment with NYU, you are required to pay 2% of your post-tax salary to either membership dues or an agency fee. This means that regardless of whether you join GSOC, you will pay 2% towards the union.
If you choose to join the union, the 2% will be removed as “union dues.” If you choose not to join the union, the 2% will be removed as an “agency fee.”
GSOC is an “agency shop.” This means you receive from the benefits GSOC has negotiated, regardless of whether you join the union or not. For example, even if you don’t join GSOC, you still have access to all union benefits such as a 95% discount of your health insurance premium and higher compensation compared to non-unionized workplaces. Because all workers have access to these benefits and rights, all workers also contribute 2% of their salary.
To become a GSOC member, fill out the GSOC-Local 7902 card completely, including both signature sections.
A union card should be provided directly to workers in GSOC-eligible positions, alongside letter(s) of appointment and a welcome letter. See here for more information about these documents.
Joining GSOC shows NYU that graduate workers stand together to demand a strong contract and fair working conditions. It is one of the most important steps you can take to show solidarity for graduate workers!
You also get access to all union benefits and rights, such as:
- Voting on union matters in membership meetings
- Opportunity to participate in various committees or working groups
- Holding a representative office, such as Shop Stewardship
- Miscellaneous benefits and rights are presented in GSOC bylaws
Initiation Fee: This is a one time $50 fee to join GSOC. This may be charged across multiple paychecks but it will never total more than $50.
Union Dues: These are ongoing fees equal to 2% of your post-tax salary. Paying either “union dues” (if you are part of GSOC) or an “agency fee” (if you are not part of GSOC) is a mandatory condition of your employment as a graduate worker at NYU. They are both the same amount so we encourage you to join GSOC!
No! You only need to submit your card once and you’re set for future semesters and positions.
Please note that GSOC switched from Local 2110 to Local 7902 in Summer 2025. If you previously submitted a Local 2110 card, you need to submit an updated Local 7902 card. Once an updated card is submitted, you are all set you future semesters.
Local 7902 is home to many higher ed unions in NYC including:
- NYU Adjunct Union
- NYU Contract Faculty United (CFU)
- NYU Student Workers at NYU (SWAN) – Undergraduate RAs
- The New School SENS
- The New School SHENS
- The New School Part-Time Faculty
Being in a Local with other higher ed unions will allow us to pool our collective power and win stronger union contracts together!