Tulane Staff Filed Petition to Form Union
Over 700 university staff members have taken initial steps to organize with the Service Employees International Union.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Unions
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Tulane University staff members have filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to establish a union. More than 65% of the over 700 eligible staff members signed pledges in support of joining Tulane Workers United.
Why it matters
Staff seek to gain a formal voice in workplace decisions, reduce high turnover rates, and address pay disparities among various university roles. The effort follows previous successful organizing campaigns by faculty and library staff at the New Orleans campus.
The petition follows an organizing campaign among more than 700 eligible staff members, including student advisors and residential life employees. Certification requires a formal vote in favor by more than 50% of the eligible staff.
The players
Michael Fitts
Michael Fitts is the President of Tulane University who received a formal letter from staff members regarding their unionization efforts.
Tulane Workers United
Tulane Workers United is the local labor organization seeking to represent staff members as an affiliate of the Service Employees International Union.
National Labor Relations Board
The National Labor Relations Board is the federal agency responsible for overseeing and certifying the union election process.
Service Employees International Union
The Service Employees International Union is a major labor organization that represents nearly two million workers across North America.
The details
University officials have declined to voluntarily recognize the proposed union, prompting staff to initiate the formal federal election process. Workers are currently advocating for better conditions as they highlight that daycare staff earn roughly $35,000 annually while staff receive four weeks of paid parental leave.
Timeline
Instructional faculty formed their union in 2024.
Librarians voted to form a union in 2025.
Staff delivered a letter and filed the petition on September 30, 2026.
A remote work policy takes effect in November 2026.
The university plans to conduct a compensation study during the 2026-2027 academic year.
Political Context
Opponents or university leadership may argue that the existing internal governance structures and upcoming compensation studies are sufficient to address staff needs without external collective bargaining. This counter-perspective emphasizes that institutional initiatives can achieve parity and policy improvements without the formal unionization process.
The push for unionization could lead to significant changes in university policies regarding remote work flexibility and compensation structures. If the union is certified, staff may see standardized changes to their existing benefits, such as the current four weeks of paid parental leave.
The takeaway
The move to unionize reflects a broader trend of administrative and support staff seeking parity with faculty and librarians in higher education. Staff should monitor official university communications for updates on the required compensation study and potential changes to workplace policies.
What happens next
Tulane University will conduct a staff compensation study throughout the 2026-2027 academic year to evaluate current pay scales.
Further reading
Learn more about local labor developments in our Unions section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NOLA.
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