May Day Demonstrations in Rochester Echo Nationwide Protests Against Trump Agenda

More than a thousand demonstrators marched through downtown Rochester on May 1, converging at the Eastman School of Music to support striking graduate workers at the University of Rochester. The protest, organized by the Rochester Area Labor Federation and SEIU Local 200United, was part of nationwide May Day demonstrations advocating for workers' rights and opposing President Donald Trump's policies.

May Day Rally in Rochester, NY took place on May 1, 2025 - FB photo by Mary DeJesus

The graduate workers, affiliated with the Graduate Labor Union (GLU), have been on strike since late April, demanding the university honor a previously negotiated private election agreement that would allow them to vote on union representation. The university withdrew from the agreement in February, citing concerns over federal privacy laws and changes in the political landscape following the 2024 presidential election.

"This May Day, we stand shoulder to shoulder with workers everywhere—especially those right here at UofR who are on the front lines of the fight to defend higher education," said Keelin Quirk, a Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, during the rally. "We are striking because the university broke its promise and walked away from the agreement that would have allowed us to vote on our union."

Adding to the tensions, Rebecca Novak Bryant, a former doctoral student in orchestral conducting at Eastman, announced she filed a complaint with the New York State Division of Human Rights. She alleges she was expelled in retaliation for reporting harassment by a faculty member, despite a university investigation substantiating her claims.

The Rochester demonstration was part of a broader wave of May Day protests across the United States, organized under the banner of the "50501" movement—representing 50 protests in 50 states with one unified message. These nationwide rallies focused on opposing President Trump's policies, including labor rights rollbacks, immigration enforcement, and economic inequality. In cities like Chicago, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles, hundreds of thousands of protesters gathered to voice their dissent. In Washington, D.C., hundreds rallied outside the White House, highlighting the intersection of immigrant and labor rights and criticizing the administration's immigration policies.

The GLU, representing approximately 1,700 graduate workers across all University of Rochester campuses, continues to call for a fair and neutral union election process. Support for the striking workers has grown, with students, faculty, and community members joining the call for the university to return to the negotiating table.

As of May 2, the university had not met directly with the GLU since withdrawing from the private election agreement, despite repeated requests from the union.