Join us on January 9-10, 2026 in Amherst, Massachusetts for HELU’s first Northeast Regional Higher Education Bargaining Summit.

In the Northeast, where we have deep collective bargaining traditions, we have an opportunity to learn from each other and build power to fight for our shared goals and values.

This Bargaining Summit brings together higher ed unions from across the northeast to build a common agenda for our region–to set new floors on wages, working conditions, and quality education.

Share contract wins and struggles:
Learn from one another’s experiences, with time dedicated to learning from others across the full range of job categories and institutions, including community colleges, 4-year universities, and research institutions.

Dig into key issues:
There will be breakouts on wages, workload, job security, safety, and more.

Plan for the future:
Together, we’ll start developing a shared bargaining platform — common goals and demands that we can fight for collectively, strengthening our voice across states and across sectors.

HELU aims to make this summit accessible to the full range of higher education unions in our region. If registration costs or other costs are a factor that will limit your union’s participation, please reach out to info@higheredlaborunited.org to discuss options for support.

HELU is building a solidarity fund to support unions with limited resources in participating in this summit and our ongoing work.

Registration for the Summit will close on December 15, 2025.

The NERB Summit has a block of hotel rooms available to reserve at Hotel UMass for the night of January 9th.

• The rate is $199/night.
• Please book by December 12. Rooms reserved after December 12 will be subject to possible rate change and availability.
• When calling or reserving on-line, please be sure to have your Guests use the Code 861934.
• Campus Center Garage Parking is available via the Hotel at time of Check-in at $6 per day.
• To book your room as part of the NERB hotel block: https://www.reseze.net/servlet/SendPage?hotelid=1760&skipfirstpage=true&page=861934