Staff in American University’s Academic Affairs division on Monday voted overwhelmingly to be represented by SEIU Local 500. One of the fastest growing unions in the greater Washington, D.C. area, Local 500 already represents adjunct faculty and graduate assistants at AU as well as the majority of adjunct faculty in the region. The staff at AU began their campaign to unionize in 2019, motivated by concerns over high turnover and understaffing, fair pay, lack of opportunities for growth and advancement, and lack of transparency. Urgency increased when the pandemic brought these issues to the forefront along with access to PPE, paid leave, and concerns around layoffs and furloughs.