Duke University acts more like a hedge fund than a university. Workers won a $20/hr minimum wage through organizing — but it’s not enough. Durham workers need $25/hr and real investment in the people who keep the city running. ✊🏽
#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth
No billion-dollar institution like Duke University gets that big without exploiting workers, especially immigrants.
We’re organizing until our campuses are safe for everyone. #OrganizeTheSouth
🚨 BREAKING: Duke University raises minimum wage to $20/hr after organizing by Durham Rising.
Workers spoke up and won. But with rising rent and living costs, the fight continues: $25/hr for Durham workers. ✊🏽#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth
Today, Durham Rising met with Bernie Sanders in Durham to demand change. As attacks hit working families, Duke University must step up to pay workers $25/hr, respect unions, and invest in Durham. This fight is bigger than one city. ✊🏽
#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth
When the ICE raids in Durham came, it kept kids home from school and terrified families. It’s heartbreaking, but our community stepped up. 100s got trained, neighbors were on alert, & we stood together to keep each other safe.💪
Anna, Durham Association of Educators
#OrganizeTheSouth #DurhamRising
Duke has a responsibility to invest in Durham’s public schools, city services, and fair wages and to live up to its own values of respect, trust, and inclusion. That’s why we’re united in Durham Rising.
Princess Moss, @neatoday.bsky.social Vice President
#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth
Durham is built by Black, brown, and immigrant workers in classrooms, cafeterias, buses, and hospital rooms. Duke runs because _we_ show up every day. Duke depends on us. It’s time they acted like it.
Julian, Duke Grad Student Union
#OrganizeTheSouth #DurhamRising #DurhamNC
Fear is a weapon. When our communities are scared and divided, it becomes easier for billionaires to defund our schools and silence immigrant families. We can’t let them diminish our power.
Anna, Durham Association of Educators
#OrganizeTheSouth #DurhamRising
Federal agents are spreading fear across the US. When they came to Durham, immigrant workers & students were terrified. And Duke did nothing. We are demanding action: protect workers, protect patients, protect students.
Julian, Duke Graduate Student Union
#OrganizeTheSouth #DurhamRising #DurhamNC
For over a century, Duke has rested on the backs of its workers. Now it’s time to pay up. Too many of us can’t afford rent, fear ICE raids, or risk being fired for speaking out. Duke has a responsibility to protect every worker.
Madeline Collier, DGSU #DurhamRising
Too many of us can’t afford rent, fear ICE raids, or risk being fired for speaking out. Duke has a responsibility to protect every worker who keeps this university and city running.
Madeline Collier, Duke Grad Union #DurhamRising
Duke sits on a $12 billion endowment. If they used just 1%, that’s $120 million that could transform Durham. The money is there. It’s time Duke invested in the community that built it.
Princess Moss, @neatoday.bsky.social Vice President
#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth #WorkersPower
You can’t celebrate Duke while pushing Durham out. We know the truth: Duke didn’t build Duke alone. Now we’re demanding affordable housing, investment in our schools, and respect for the people who made Duke possible.
Brandon Young, Durham For All
#DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth #DurhamNC
“Now service workers have to work 3 AM shifts … they have to work unbelievable hours and do a lot more work for … a wage that doesn’t provide affordability to live in the city of Durham.” Artivista Karlin, Sunrise Duke
📰 The Duke Chronicle
dukechronicle.com/article/resp...
Over 10k folks signed our petition supporting Durham Rising demands, let’s see how candidate for City Council and Mayor stacked up.
#DurhamRising #DurhamNC
You say you care for Durham? Duke, show us and come to the table.
#DurhamRising #OrganizetheSouth
Laura has been at Duke for over a decade, still making under $19/hour while being forced to do the work of multiple people. Management knows. They just don’t care.
We deserve respect, fair pay, and dignity at Duke.
✊ That’s why we’re rising together. Join us: bit.ly/durhamrising
#DurhamRising
“So many people in the city of Durham agree with this message...We know that it's important, and that's why we're standing here today, side by side across different groups of people.” - Mike Ramos, @siembranc.bsky.social
📰 @dukechronicle.bsky.social
www.dukechronicle.com/article/duke...
"I’m not hearing it when they say, ‘oh, Trump’s taking our money. First of all, stand up and fight. Second of all, you still have that endowment...Use it on the community...You have the money.” - Ananda Ghosh, DAE & teacher
📰 Raleigh News and Observer
www.newsobserver.com/news/local/c...
"We want you to sit at our table and understand how the workers and the city feel, and let's build the bridges. Don't break them or burn them, but let's build them." - Nah'Shon Blunt, @raiseupthesouth.bsky.social member and Duke housekeeper
📰 ABC 11
abc11.com/post/durham-...
Check out what media is saying about our Duke Founders' Day rally & march last week 💅
📰 CBS 17 #DurhamRising
www.cbs17.com/news/local-n...
NOW: Community members take over the street in front of Duke University to demand that Duke stand with the workers, not the billionaires.
As Duke lays off workers and cuts program budgets, they sit on a ~$12 billion endowment.
#UnionsforAll #OrganizetheSouth
This Founders’ Day, we’re telling the real story of Duke.
On Thursday, Sept 25 at 5 PM, Durham Rising is rallying again. We’re calling on Duke to stand with workers and invest in the community that makes this university possible.
RSVP now: bit.ly/DukeFounders25
#DurhamRising
“Do you agree that Duke should stand up to protect workers, students, faculty, programs and our communities from attacks by the federal government?” asked Mike Ramos, @siembranc.bsky.social member
📰 @indyweek.bsky.social #DurhamRising #OrganizeTheSouth
indyweek.com/news/durham/...
Workers, students & community came together under Durham Rising to demand City Council & mayoral candidates fight for working people—and hold Duke accountable.
Duke has the resources. It’s time they protect workers & families, not cut jobs.
RSVP for Sept 25: bit.ly/DukeFounders25 #DurhamRising
ACTION: Join us on Th 9/25 in Durham for our 2025 Founders' Day Rally March and Rally
Join us as we demand Duke make a choice: Side with the billionaires on the Board of Trustees, or stand with the people of Durham who truly make Duke run. www.bit.ly/DukeFounders25
#UnionsforAll #OrganizetheSouth
Last Thursday, we joined Luis alongside members of the Duke community and Representatives Marcia Morey and Maria Cervania in calling on Republican leaders to take action to protect workers like Luis.
@raiseupthesouth.bsky.social @fightforthefuture.org @1199seiu.org @seiu.org
Duke will be starting involuntary layoffs in August, despite already having 600 workers voluntary laid off. Instead of putting the pressure on workers, protect jobs at Duke!
Sign our petitions:
bit.ly/saveHUCs
bit.ly/durhamrising
Let’s be real: Duke isn’t a struggling nonprofit. It’s a wealthy health system that keeps buying up Durham and paying no taxes.
Meanwhile, our public schools are being starved of funding.
Sign the petition: bit.ly/durhamrising
Brandon Young, @durhamforall leader
#DurhamRising
