Fall 2025 Newsletter

More than 60 union members from the University of Louisville, University of Kentucky, Murray State University, Morehead State University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Berea College came together in Louisville for a two-day summer organizing retreat!

Our retreat was a powerful opportunity for members to sharpen their organizing skills, share campaign strategies from across campuses, and prepare to ramp up our efforts as the fall semester approaches.

Statewide UCW leaders also used the gathering to define our collective path to power—strategizing how our statewide union can more effectively push back against ongoing attacks on higher education and fight for the rights and dignity of all campus workers in Kentucky.

Missed the retreat but want to get more involved?
Reach out at [email protected] to get connected!

Student and graduate workers canvassed new student orientation to connect with their incoming coworkers!

Ezra Lanoue (he/him)

I’m excited to be a staff organizer for your union and to be working with you to grow the membership, develop members into union leaders, and win better working conditions for KY higher ed!

I joined UCW-KY in the Fall of 2022 as a founding undergraduate member of our Berea College chapter. At Berea I worked as an office assistant, a TA, a janitor, and an RA. In every position I worked I saw my fellow workers afraid to speak up about issues that impacted their safety, well-being, and ability to do their jobs. When workers spoke up, they were labeled as troublemakers, isolated, and/or pushed out of their positions. I was afraid to speak up too much, too, and I spent a lot of time putting my head down and trying to get through the day.Joining UCW was transformational for me because I saw that the issues I faced at Berea were the same issues my fellow workers were facing across the state. I saw that other people were organizing to confront the same challenges that I wanted to tackle, and that other people believed in a world where everyone has dignity, good jobs, and a voice at work. UCW members inspired me to keep fighting, growing as an organizer, and never give up!Your union is as strong as you and your fellow members are active!

University of Louisville

• Chapter leadership set goals for Fall 2025 and developed outreach plans to strengthen their DEI and living wage campaigns.

   

• The DEI coalition met with President Bradley and other administrative officials to advocate for limiting over-compliance, protecting academic freedom, and increasing transparency around HB4 workgroups.
  
  

• Graduate workers continued planning their living wage campaign, including outreach strategies for first-year graduate students and workers from underrepresented departments.

   

Morehead State University

• In June, our organizing committee meeting, discussed strategic organizing issues and began exploring how to incorporate political education into our organizing efforts.

Berea College

• Undergraduate members began planning a back-to-work event for the start of the fall semester.
  
  

• Undergraduate are developing outreach materials and a calendar, and have decided to focus their fall campaign on winning sick leave for student workers!

Murray State University

• The UCW-Murray State chapter held an organizing committee meeting to discuss leadership roles for the fall, with a focus on involving less active and newer rank-and-file members.

Eastern Kentucky University

• EKU is in the process of rebuilding their organizing committee in preparation for a potential fall pay campaign.

University of Kentucky

• UK workers hosted are final summer lunch break, inviting all UK workers for casual conversation and updates.
  
  
• UCW had a booth at the Lexington Pride Festival to connect with the community and show solidarity with LGBTQ+ workers.
  
  
• Members gathered for a strategy meeting to plan the next steps in our pay campaign following a power mapping session in July. 

UCW 101: Organizing Basics
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2025, 6ET - Register Here
In this 75 minute training, we will review and discuss some of the fundamentals that guide our United Campus Workers organizing strategy, and leave with next steps for applying these fundamentals on their campus and in their workplace. Any and all United Campus Workers members are encouraged to attend.

Can't make it?Check here for more trainings happening this fall! 

United Campus Workers Southeast General Membership Meeting 
 Thursday September 25, 7pm - 8pm on Zoom. RSVP here!

UofL Start of Semester Social!

Friday, August 22rd, 2025, 5ET - RSVP here!

Join us for a UofL-UCW Union Social to kick off the start of the 2025 Fall Semester! We'll gather at 5 pm at Mile Wide Beer Co. located at 636 Barret Avenue Louisville KY. They serve pizza and a variety of beverages. Come together to share in good company, conversation, and strategizing for the year ahead. Families and friends, members and non-members - all are welcome!

UK Start of Semester Social!

This Friday, August 22nd, you're invited to a campus-wide social at Woodland Park, starting at 5pm.

Join your fellow faculty, staff, grad workers, and undergrad workers for a final gathering before the start of the semester! Not only is this an opportunity to relax and meet fellow members, it's also a chance to learn about different opportunities for involvement in our union. -- RSVP here!

Berea College Start of Semester Social!

Your Union's Back to Work Social will be this August 19th at 5:30pm in the Activities Room on the bottom floor of Alumni. -- RSVP here 

We’re inviting new and returning student workers to come meet other organizers, learn more about your union, and find out how you can get involved! We will also have food, crafts, and T-shirt printing!

Morehead State University Start of Semester Social!
We are having our start of semester social! on 8/27 at Sawstone!

Murray State UniversityStart of Semester Social!
Thursday, August 28th at 4pm at Tap 216

UCWKY IN THE NEWS

Under Trump, Student Labor Organizers Face New Challenges

"More unions are learning to operate absent any government protected modes of organizing. United Campus Workers (UCW), with 7,000 members nationwide, organizes wall-to-wall: all workers from faculty to students to facilities. It relies on collective actions such as rallies and petition signings organized by a student-led committee that reaches out to the wider school body to gain support and put pressure on administrators, rather than a legal right to bargain and strike. which often does not exist for public colleges." Read more here

UK graduate student workers continue to push for higher stipends

"Graduate workers at the University of Kentucky are keeping up the fight for higher stipends. On Friday, the group took a new step toward the goal, but is concerned that not a lot of progress is being made.

UK grad student workers joined in with the United Campus Workers of Kentucky (UCW) to help make their voices heard. The group is looking for their stipends to be increased, and graduate students like Savanna Ploessl said what’s being made now is barely enough to get by." Read more here

"Backed by United Campus Workers of Kentucky, Senate Democratic Floor Leader Gerald Neal attempted to get the Senate Education Committee to adopt substitute versions of two Republican higher education bills Monday afternoon." Read more here