Dear Hilltop RAs,
I am writing to provide an update on the RA union election process. We have worked collaboratively with the Georgetown Resident Assistant Coalition (“GRAC”) and the Office and Professional Employees International Union (“OPEIU”) to reach an agreement on how to hold an election this semester. Please read this material carefully.
The election will be held on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, between 7-9 a.m. and 5-7 p.m. in McShain Large in McCarthy Hall next to Leo’s.
Before the Election
We are coordinating with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) and GRAC/OPEIU to prepare for the election and will help support the administration of the election on April 16.
Any undergraduate student who has served as a Resident Assistant on Georgetown’s Main Campus during the 2023-24 academic year and who continues to serve as a Resident Assistant as of the date of the election is eligible to vote. We encourage you to learn more about OPEIU, the union election process, and your rights under federal labor law. Please visit georgetown.edu/RAUnion for more information.
Election Day
We encourage each RA to vote in order to exercise your individual and voluntary choice to determine whether you wish to be represented by the OPEIU. The election will be decided based on a majority of RAs who actually vote, not the overall RA population. If a majority of those who vote in the election vote in favor of unionization, OPEIU would become the collective bargaining representative of all eligible RAs, including those who vote against the union or do not vote at all. We encourage all eligible RAs to educate themselves and participate and vote in this process so that their voices are heard.
At the conclusion of the election, the NLRB will count the secret ballots of all RAs who vote in the election. Because it is a secret ballot election, nobody will know how any RA voted.
After the Election
Georgetown will respect the result of the election. If a majority of RAs who vote in the election vote in favor of union representation, upon certification by the NLRB, OPEIU Local 153 would become the exclusive bargaining representative regarding terms and conditions of employment for RAs. RAs would likely be required to pay dues in exchange for the union’s representation, which the union would determine.
Both the University and the union would have a duty to bargain in good faith toward an agreement. The scope of collective bargaining would relate to the terms and conditions of the RA position – it would not include matters regarding RAs’ academic experience as students. Both the University and union could put forth proposals during this process, and neither party would be required to agree to any proposal regarding terms or conditions of employment, including any changes to compensation. Neither the University nor the union know what the outcome of collective bargaining negotiations would be.
While there is no way to predict the length of negotiations, the process of negotiating a first collective bargaining agreement generally takes approximately a year, and sometimes more. Federal law requires that existing employment terms, including compensation and working conditions, remain in place during these negotiations. Any changes discussed in negotiations would only be implemented once the negotiation process is complete.
I hope this information about the union election process is helpful. As I have shared, I am grateful for all that you do for each other and our students through your service as RAs.
With respect,
Dr. Eleanor JB Daugherty, EdD
Vice President for Student Affairs