This year workers at three different college campuses in Chicago went on strike. Currently, another strike is being authorized by graduate students at the University of Chicago. In an attempt to explain the increase in industrial activity seen amongst this population, some turn to statistics regarding unionization rates on college campuses. Since the 1970s, unions have grown in academia- university instructors have stated that they are starting to view themselves as laborers. Additionally, graduate students are starting to organize in order to secure higher wages and greater benefits. Many feel that unionization leads to greater accountability for colleges because it makes labor practices more visible.
See "'Because we know that strikes work': College unions leverage publicity in tough contract battles", Dawn Rhodes, The Chicago Tribune, May 27, 2019