Nevada state legislators are advocating for the recognition of graduate assistants as a union, highlighting their essential contributions to education.
Las Vegas: Recently, Democratic state legislators in Nevada signed a letter pushing for the recognition of graduate assistants as a union. They want the Nevada System of Higher Education to acknowledge the hard work these assistants do.
The letter was backed by nine senators and 28 Assembly members. They urged key university leaders to recognize the union right away. They expressed their willingness to collaborate with both sides to improve the situation for graduate assistants.
Back in November, graduate assistants at UNLV, UNR, and the Desert Research Institute voted overwhelmingly to unionize under the United Auto Workers, now called NGSW-UAW. However, the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) has been slow to respond to their requests.
In an email, NSHE’s Interim Chancellor Patty Charlton stated that neither she nor the university presidents have the authority to formally recognize the union. Still, she expressed a desire to understand the challenges faced by graduate assistants and explore solutions outside of formal negotiations.
At a press conference, graduate assistants voiced their frustration with the chancellor’s response. Evelyn Ariam, a graduate assistant, called it unacceptable. While President Whitfield has met with some organizers, he hasn’t committed to supporting the union recognition process.
Ariam and other graduate assistants, along with state Sen. Fabian Donate and Nevada State AFL-CIO officials, rallied outside NSHE, demanding recognition for the union. Susie Martinez from the Nevada AFL-CIO emphasized the importance of unions, calling graduate assistants the “unseen backbone” of the university.
The legislators’ letter highlighted the significant contributions of graduate workers, noting that their efforts generated substantial state and federal funding for education. They also pointed out ongoing issues like workplace harassment, job insecurity, and low pay that hinder the assistants’ ability to perform their roles effectively.
In a survey, many graduate students reported experiencing harassment or retaliation, and a large percentage said their pay wasn’t enough to cover living costs. Graduate assistant Reina Benefiel shared her struggles, often working long hours in the lab while trying to meet basic needs.
Another assistant, Patricia Orellana, recounted her challenges returning to work after a cesarean birth, facing a tough work environment and needing to advocate for herself to get necessary breaks. She even faced a frightening incident involving a student with a gun, highlighting the lack of protection for graduate students.
Senator Donate emphasized that they aren’t asking for handouts but for respect and recognition of the vital roles graduate assistants play in the university system.
For more information, you can reach out to Katie Futterman at kfutterman@reviewjournal.com or follow her on social media.
