Are there graduate student unions at other schools?
How is it possible for graduate students to have a Union?
What have unions done for grad students at other schools?
Is it legal for Maryland grad students to form a Union?
Why bother organizing before the law is changed?
Which graduate students would be eligible to be in a union?
What are the benefits of a union for grad students?
Can International students join?
What will the dues be?
Why do we need a Union when the GSG is already representing our interests to the University?
I have more questions: Please see this website, or contact your department coordinator.
Q: Are there graduate student unions at other schools?
A: Yes! The best public graduate schools in the country (University of Michigan and UCal Berkeley) have unionized grad students. Of our five peer institutions (the institutions that the University of Maryland has chosen to compare itself to), four have graduate student unions: University of Michigan, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, UCLA, and UCal Berkeley. The exception is the University of North Carolina. Other grad student unions in the country include Rutgers, University of Florida, University of Oregon, etc. A full list can be found here. There have been previous attempts to create a graduate student union on our campus.
Q: How is it possible for graduate students to have a Union?
A: Graduate students are unionizing in their capacity as employees of the University. For example, an English 101 TA who is also a PhD student in American Studies is in the Union in her capacity as a TA, not based on her academic endeavors within her program.
Q: What have unions done for grad students at other schools?
A: In short, higher stipends, better benefits, meaningful grievance procedures, intellectual property rights, lower fees, etc. More information can be found here.
Q: Is it legal for Maryland grad students to form a Union?
A: Yes! By law, the University is not required to negotiate with a graduate student union, but it's perfectly legal for us to form, organize, and talk about a union. Long and well-tested Federal laws protect the right of employees in any situation to discuss unionization and to associate together for mutual benefit. For example, we have the right to talk about a union in the workplace, and and to have union meetings in designated non-work areas (e.g. a department lunch room).
Many states have laws that specifically deny certain groups of employees (often various types of state employees) the right to collective bargaining. Maryland currently has such laws but is amenable to changing them. In 2001, University staff were removed from the groups barred from collective bargaining. We have a very strong chance of changing this law in the 2008 legislative session. This will allow MTR to negotiate contracts on behalf of its members and others in the bargaining unit.
Q: Why bother organizing before the law is changed?
A: For starters, it will help get the law changed if we can show legislators and other key decision makers that this is something that graduate students want. Also, collective bargaining is one -- but not the only -- important service that a strong union can provide. A strong union can also fight for a standardized and binding grievance procedure, rules to prevent graduate students from working more hours than they are paid for, and increased stipends more compatible with living expenses in the DC-Metro area.
Q: Which graduate students would be eligible to join a union?
A: Potentially, all graduate students who receive funding from the University, either through a Graduate Assistantship (which would include TA's, RA's, and AA's) or through a University fellowship. Such is the case with Oregon State's graduate student union. The University of Michigan's graduate employee union covers TA's and AA's, not RA's. However, the University of Michigan voluntarily applies the same gains and benefits for TA's and AA's to RA's. In other words, if the Union negotiates a 6% pay increase for TA's and AA's, the University of Michigan applies that to RA's even though they are not contractually obligated to do so. This is a good example of how unionization can benefit all graduate students, not just those who are part of the bargaining unit.
Since there is no officially recognized bargaining unit on campus, any graduate student can join. There is no reason to restrict membership at this point.
Q: Why would grad students unionize -- what are the benefits?
A: The main benefit is that a union gives us the ability to participate in the decisions that most affect us -- decisions on stipend levels, workload, work conditions, grievance procedure, fees, etc. For example, grad students at the University of Maryland currently have no role in setting stipend levels. Grad student unions at other schools (including 4 out of 5 of our peer institutions) negotiate a contract with the University to determine stipend levels, among other things.
Another notable benefit of a union is a binding grievance procedure. Check out the grievance procedure at University of Michigan for graduate students . This grievance procedure was negotiated by UM's Graduate Employee Organization. Here at the University of Maryland, if a TA works more than the designated 20 hours/week, there is no means of redress.
Q: Can International students join?
A: Yes. Conditions of foreign student visas require that students only accept employment associated with the University. This in no way compromises the right to belong to a union that represents them in the work place. Also, confidentiality of a union membership is guaranteed by Federal labor law.
Q: What will it cost me to be in a union?
A: Currently, it does not cost anything to join. Eventually, a dues structure will be established. Dues will cover the organizing and operational costs for the union and are set at whatever level the union members determine is necessary to carry out the mission of providing services and securing collective bargaining on contracts. This does not have to be expensive and most graduate union dues across the country are quite reasonable. The best way to insure that you are comfortable with the dues required by the union is to get involved and help set them yourself!
Q: Why do we need a union when the GSG is already representing our interests to the University?
A: The Graduate Student Government (GSG) is charged with representing the needs and interests of all graduate students on campus in all facets of their lives here at the University, as well as overseeing the use of the Graduate Student Activities Fee. The GSG has worked to advance the interests of graduate employees, but cannot devote the time and resources that MTR would bring to the table. The focus of MTR is primarily on protecting the wages and rights of graduate employees. However, having a strong union provides additional benefits to all graduate students. MTR does not deal with academic issues that are unrelated to the mission of providing higher pay and better benefits to its members. The GSG has its own role in conveying the concerns of the entire community to the University administration and local and state lawmakers and must remain open to both union members and non members. Peer institutions that have strong graduate unions also have their own graduate student governments and most coexist harmoniously. There is nothing to prevent an interested student from being active in both the GSG and MTR, but there is no formal decision making relationship between the two.