Hands Off Higher Ed!
Fund Education, Not War and Deportation
Higher education workers need to be paid living wages and treated with respect. Students need affordable colleges and universities, where they can study without going deep into debt. Communities need institutions that give back rather than exploit. The current U.S. administration keeps throwing money at immoral programs like deportation and war, while education faces cuts and we’re all asked to do more with less. Our work makes colleges and universities run. On May Day, we will come together with our students and communities to show the power of higher education, united.
Higher Ed Workers Take Action
May 1, 2026
Freedom to Teach, Research, and Learn
Across the country, higher ed workers will show up on May Day. Check this map to see if there’s a higher ed labor-led event happening near you.
May Day
2026
Freedom
to Teach,
Research,
& Learn
On May Day 2026, higher ed workers come together with students and community members in cities and college towns across the country to say, “Hands off higher ed!” We demand fully-funded higher education – colleges and universities where workers get paid living wages and are treated fairly, students are able to learn without going into debt, and research funding doesn’t depend on politics.
Education, scientific research, and social support systems are facing huge cuts to funding while our country spends hundreds of billions of dollars on cruel and unnecessary wars. We can do better.
On May 1, we make our power known, hand-in-hand with students and communities.
Resources
Not sure where to start? We’ve got you. In addition to experienced organizers who can help you along the way, we’ve got all kinds of resources to get you started. Visit our resources page for access to our toolkit, graphics, printable signs, planning information, and more.
Who we are
