Why Do We Need a Union?

RAs experience a distinctive blend of responsibilities that blur the lines between personal and professional life, often leading to stress, burnout, and compromised well-being. With ongoing housing challenges at Purdue, many RAs find themselves stretched thin—sometimes overseeing upwards of 70 residents—without corresponding compensation or support. Moreover, having to room with residents intensifies mental health strain and erodes professional boundaries, affecting both the RA and their peers.

Compounding these issues is a lack of sufficient recourse when professional staff fail to offer adequate support, creating work environments where RAs bear an excessive burden. Traumatic events, including student or staff deaths, often receive little to no follow-up or mental health assistance, leaving RAs to shoulder these crises on their own. Mandatory reporting requirements further complicate the RA-resident relationship by inhibiting open discussion of serious disclosures such as sexual assault.

A union allows RAs to collectively address these challenges by advocating for enforceable workload limits, improved living conditions, and accessible mental health support. Through organized efforts, we can ensure that Resident Assistants receive the respect, fair treatment, and resources necessary to best serve their residents—and themselves.

What Can You Do to Help?

• Sign a Union Card (Purdue RAs & REAs Only)
  If you are a Resident Assistant (RA), one of the most impactful actions you can take is to sign a union card. This process is entirely anonymous until we surpass our goal of securing signatures from at least half of eligible workers. Meeting this threshold gives us the collective power to formally request recognition as a union from Purdue University. Your signature helps build momentum and shows our shared commitment to improving working conditions for all RAs.

• Volunteer at Events
  We frequently organize events aimed at raising awareness, fostering community, and sharing information about ROW’s mission and goals. Check our calendar for upcoming gatherings—whether workshops, rallies, or info sessions—and consider volunteering to help make them a success. If you see an event that interests you, or if you have ideas for new events, please reach out to our email and let us know how you’d like to be involved!

• Spread the Word
  Finally, word of mouth is one of our strongest tools. Let your friends, colleagues, and fellow RAs know about ROW. If you know someone who is considering becoming an RA, encourage them to learn about our union efforts. Direct them to this website or provide our email for more information. The larger our network grows, the stronger our collective voice will be in demanding positive change.