Board Overturns TAs Union Membership

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON - Graduate teaching assistants at private universities do not have the right to form unions, the National Labor Relations Board has ruled, reversing its 2000 landmark decision that resulted in thousands of new union members.

The board, led by three Republicans appointed by President Bush (news - web sites), ruled that about 450 graduate teaching and research assistants at Brown University in Providence, R.I., could not be represented by the United Auto Workers (news - web sites) because they were students, not employees.

The two Democrats on the five-member panel opposed the decision, which does not affect public universities and colleges. The ruling was issued Tuesday and made public Thursday.
...
It is one of several recent blows the GOP-dominated board has delivered to organized labor.

Last month, the panel overturned another Clinton-era case that had extended to nonunion workers the right to have a co-worker present at a meeting with supervisors that might result in discipline. Also last month, the board voted to consider two cases that could force unions to abandon recruiting strategies that let them bypass elections in the workplace.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/ap/20040716/ap_on_go_ot/campus_unions

[bigbillhaywood]

1. This is BULLSHIT! This is why I'm voting for Kerry even though I hate

his guts. Kerry is pro-corporate and mildly anti-labor, but Bush is a Pinkerton thug compared to Kerry. You should post this in GD, too. This is big news.

[Hekate]

2. "Pinkerton thug" -- very apt

So this is another Elaine Chao Special. Staying right on track to convert the US economic structure into a feudal society, with Bushies ("The haves and have mores...or as I call you, my base" W) in their gated communities and the rest of us scrambling to be on the crew that helps them dig the moats.

Hekate
whose daddy was a union man

[LiberalFighter]

5. That is one of the reasons to vote for Kerry

Who will listen to us? gw* or Kerry?

I know from experience that when they know I am union repugs avoid me. That has happened with the former Senator Coats and our current Congressman Souder.

On the other side... I have had better results with Democrats from local to the federal level. Even got put through to Congresswoman Jill Long at her office in DC back in the early 90's.


If Kerry is mildly anti-labor there is a way to make that an issue that they need to give more importance. CALL WRITE VISIT Let him/them know that the issue is important and make sure that your organization gets the word out to its members to contact their elected officials.

It worked during the Clinton administration. I didn't consider him to be the best candidate. My preference was Harkin. Clinton was not exactly god to labor organizations in Arkansas when he was Governor. But he did much better than any repug during his two terms. We had some of our people in positions to help labor. Will or has gw* done that?

Politicians no matter who they are need to be reminded that their constituents are paying attention to what they are doing. Not just at election time. Again CALL WRITE VISIT.

[lakeguy]

3. This is complete crap!

I'm a graduate student and I've been employed by the same school for over 4 years as both a TA and a RA. Guess how many raises I've received...that's right ZERO. Not even cost of living increases. In addition, we get paid for a 20 hour work week and I don't know one RA that works less than 40. It's a little better if you are taking classes for free but those of us who are finished with course work don't get a dime more. I understand that you have to put in your "dues" when you are starting out but making ~7.50 an hour, with an MS, is a little absurd. Fair pay for fair work, that's all I ask and that's all these students from Brown are asking for.

I might as well get a job at Wal-Mart at this rate. But, I'm sure they'd fire me after I tried to start a union anyway.:mad:

[Lisa]

7. plus the fact that schools are relying increasingly on TAs ...

... and on non-faculty sessional instructors. Until our university unionized (under the Canadian Union of Public Employees), more than 60% of overall teaching load was being carried by people who weren't protected by unions, and weren't recognized by the Faculty Association.

[bluestateguy]

4. Typical

Universities will call TA's students when it is convenient for the university and employees when it is convenient for the university.

[wickerwoman]

6. This doesn't make sense to me.

When I was in grad school (last year) and a TA I paid dues with the AAUP. So why are these TAs and RAs looking for representation from the UAW?

Or is the AAUP only for public universities?

Anyway, this is BS on so many levels, I can't keep them straight.