Grad Student Workers Are Fighting To Unionize At Private Universities

Grad Student Protest at Basketball Game
Loyola graduate student workers are getting creative as they try to pressure university administrators to negotiate, including protesting at a recent basketball game. Photo courtesy of the Loyola Worker Coalition Facebook page
Grad Student Protest at Basketball Game
Loyola graduate student workers are getting creative as they try to pressure university administrators to negotiate, including protesting at a recent basketball game. Photo courtesy of the Loyola Worker Coalition Facebook page

Grad Student Workers Are Fighting To Unionize At Private Universities

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Graduate student workers in the Chicago area are struggling to convince officials at private universities to recognize their unions.

In 2016, the National Labor Relations Board ruled graduate student workers at Columbia University are employees, setting the stage for unionization efforts across the country.

However several graduate student unions, including one at the University of Chicago, withdrew their requests for recognition after President Donald Trump appointed new members to the labor board who are considered less friendly to organized labor.

WBEZ’s Kate McGee joins the Morning Shift with the latest.

GUEST: Kate McGee, WBEZ education reporter

LEARN MORE: Chicago Graduate Student Unions Face Roadblocks to Unionization (WBEZ 4/10/19)