Princeton graduate students with appointments as Assistants in Research or Assistants in Instruction have voted to decline representation by the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE), according to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). 

In an initial tally, the NLRB reports 652 votes against the union and 391 votes in favor — a 63%/37% split. The ballot total indicates that more than 73% of the 1,523 eligible voters turned out to vote in the election held on Monday, May 13, and Tuesday, May 14. The NLRB is expected to certify the results in the coming days.

“At Princeton, graduate student voices matter and we appreciate the concerns raised by students during the campaign,” said Dean Rodney Priestley of the Graduate School. “We look forward to finding opportunities to continue strengthening our partnership with students to enhance the student experience and advance Princeton graduate education, guided by our unaltered commitments to Princeton’s research and teaching mission and the success and well-being of all Princeton graduate students.”

A message sent to graduate students on Tuesday evening from the Graduate School reported the election outcome and thanked “everyone who has thoughtfully considered unionization, participated in the discussion over the past 15 months, and turned out to vote your convictions this week… As we have said throughout this campaign, the Graduate School will always support you.”