Brown Grad Students & Research Assistants Vote to Unionize
GoLocalProv News Team
Brown Grad Students & Research Assistants Vote to Unionize
The final votes comes after a four-day secret ballot election process that ended on Monday, November 19.
“The University’s commitment throughout this process has been to minimize polarization, maintain a cohesive community and ensure that eligible graduate assistants could decide for themselves whether or not to unionize. I’m pleased that we were able to provide a fair and orderly process, and I look forward to continuing to collaborate closely with graduate students to enhance graduate education at Brown," said Brown Provost Richard Locke.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe American Arbitration Association (AAA), which managed the election, tallied the results and reported that by a majority count of 576 to 394, eligible graduate students voted to unionize.
Per standard election procedures established by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the AAA’s certification of the results will be finalized after all valid absentee ballots are counted and any objections made by the parties are resolved.
What it Means
Upon certification of that outcome, Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees (SUGSE) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) will represent approximately 900 doctoral and master’s students enrolled in the Graduate School at Brown who are currently engaged as teaching assistants, research assistants or proctors.
Per the terms of a June 2018 pre-election agreement, Brown and SUGSE/AFT will then begin discussions toward a collective bargaining agreement, negotiating on matters of wages, hours, and terms and conditions of employment for the members of the bargaining unit.
“The Graduate School will continue to ensure that graduate students from all disciplines and all backgrounds are provided with the platform and freedom to express their views, to participate in the governance of their education, and to advocate for the resources dedicated to furthering their scholarly pursuits,” said Graduate School Dean Andrew Campbell.
The University will send formal notice of its recognition of the union to the National Labor Relations Board.
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