Graduate students’ fight comes together at N.Y.U. rally

[struggle4progress]

By Nancy Reardon

Graduate student assistant teachers at New York University demonstrated their support of unionized graduate employees around the city last week, an effort that culminated in a large rally on Thursday.

Concerned over the fate of their first-ever union, N.Y.U.’s graduate assistants, or G.A.’s, are urging the administration to start negotiations now to renew their contract. They say the university has been dragging its feet over initiating any meetings and want talks to start now — four months before their contract expires.

Graduate teaching students pay no tuition and receive health insurance and stipends. They usually work as teaching assistants in at least one course each semester, which requires attending lectures, teaching and grading papers.

The rally in front of N.Y.U.’s Bobst Library brought together grad students from N.Y.U. and Columbia University, adjunct professors, activists and union members to demonstrate their united support for organized graduate teaching assistants. <snip>

http://www.thevillager.com/villager_104/graduatestudentsfight.html

[Robert Oak]

1. go go go

come on US government, where are the funds for this important
area that will keep the US number one?

How long can a graduate student work as an indentured servant
while trying to get that degree?

[Quakerfriend]

2. I worked as a RA (in those days it was called a 'research

assistant') in 84-86. I felt a bit overwhelmed at times trying to do my own thesis and teach as well but, for the most part, I felt that I was real fortunate to have free tuition and $550/month stipend.

I would not have dreamed of being part of a union!

[UCLA Dem]

3. Good for them. Grad students are treated like slave labor.