"Not that everything is perfect, but we have it far better than TA's at many other institutions," says Adam P. Fagen, former president of the GSC.
"There doesn't seem to be an employment issue that galvanizes graduate students here," he says. "In general, I would say the employment conditions of TF's here is pretty good- respectable pay and working conditions, generally reasonable workload and benefits provided."
This year, graduate students at a number of schools have made public strides toward unionizing. Universities have resisted--saying it'll force them to raise tuition for undergraduates.
Universities also claim that their graduate students are students, learning the art of teaching by helping professors.
NYU's graduate students persuaded a regional director for the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB)--the federal agency that mediates relations between workers and employers--to recognize their right to collectively bargain.
If the students proceed with their plan to hold union elections, they'll be the first to do so at a private institution.
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