Brandeis Staff Kickoff 2025 with a landslide victory for their union

Nearly 170 clerical, technical, and academic staff at Brandeis University are now united in SEIU Local 888. Through an in-person and mail ballot election, workers voted to join SEIU 888 in a vote of 78-6 to protect good jobs and address ongoing issues of low wages and burnout.

“It has been inspiring to witness the positive results of Brandeis staff coming together in 2024, sharing our individual stories, and speaking out in public to form our union.  I am eager to continue working with my dedicated colleagues to make staff voices heard and to make Brandeis the best place it can be for us all” said Eileen Kell (She/Her), an academic administrator at Brandeis.

The workers who voted to join SEIU 888 include research associates, academic administrators, department coordinators, academic advisors, and grants administrators.

“We are excited to welcome Brandeis staff into SEIU Local 888 and we look forward to working with them to win a fair contract that provides the dignity, respect, and a voice on the job that they deserve", said SEIU Local 888 President Tom McKeever

Brandeis staff began organizing in April 2024, filing for their union election in October 2024. This union victory puts staff at Brandeis in position to make positive change for themselves and their coworkers by coming together to address their collective issues.

SEIU Local 888 unites more than 8,000 state, municipal and education workers across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. We believe in the dignity and worth of workers and the important services they provide. We are dedicated to improving the quality of public service and education, and to creating a more just and humane society.