Protecting the Rights of International Student Workers

International students and scholars have always faced challenges and precarity on account of their status as visa holders. In 2020, the federal government increased this pressure by issuing a number of short-sighted and xenophobic policies, from requiring international students to attend classes in person during the COVID-19 crisis or risk deportation, to restricting H1B visas, to the Muslim travel ban, to restrictions on Chinese international student visas, and more. These actions have created tremendous stress, concern and uncertainty for international students/scholars and our futures.

By forming a union, International Student Workers can negotiate for additional protections. 

Through their contracts, for example, Harvard international student workers have won increased job security by ensuring greater ability to work remotely if unable to return to the US, expanded support for immigration legal expenses including a fund, and leave for immigration-related proceedings. UC Postdocs have won increased rights for international Postdocs by ending UC’s practice of denying health benefits for many international Postdocs and ensuring equal treatment regardless of immigration status. 

UAW has also been a critical resource and provided a political voice for international students and scholars to affect national policy. UAW Academic Workers have used their collective strength to:

• write thousands of letters to elected officials
• protest outside of ICE offices and share our stories with the press
• host information sessions with immigration attorneys
• and submit formal declarations filed in lawsuits to overturn xenophobic policies.
  

In October of 2020, UAW Academic Workers mobilized against a proposed rule by ICE to shorten visa stays for international scholars; thousands of public comments were submitted, including by the President of the UAW International. In July of 2020, thanks to the direct action by UAW Academic Workers across the country, in addition to efforts by our university and government allies, ICE backed down from its directive to deport international students taking online classes due to COVID-19. In 2017, the UAW International filed an amicus brief in the Supreme Court case challenging the Trump administration’s travel ban.

UAW Local 2865 and UAW 5810 union members with Congresswoman Judy Chu discussing her Dear Colleague Letter in support of Chinese international students at her office in Pasadena, 2018.