Question

State University employs a large number of graduate students to work as teaching assistants. The teaching assistants often complain about their work. They feel that faculty and administrators demand too much. A common complaint is their low wages. The graduate students frequently point out that they do much the same work as faculty members, yet they receive only a very small percentage of the pay that faculty members receive. They also claim that faculty members frequently treat them unfairly. Teaching assistants are often asked to do large amounts of grading in very short time periods. Many also feel that faculty members are not very good at communicating expectations.

In response to the dissatisfaction of the teaching assistants, a local union representing public workers has begun efforts to organize a labor union. Union representatives have obtained campaign card signatures from 40 percent of the teaching assistants. An election is scheduled for next month. Union representatives have been busy making a case that the union can help ensure that teaching assistants are treated more fairly. They have publicized statistics showing that unionized workers make significantly more than nonunionized workers. University administrators have decided not to actively oppose union organization. They have simply stated that it is important for teaching assistants to have the opportunity to decide whether they should be represented by a labor union.

Some faculty members are sympathetic to the concerns voiced by graduate students. They publicly state their concern that wages are too low. They also express frustration when they see some of their colleagues take advantage of students by assigning them large amounts of work to complete in short time periods. Other faculty members are less sympathetic. These professors talk about how they were treated even worse when they were graduate assistants. They seem to find joy in looking back and telling war stories about “the old days.” They seem to think that working hard for little pay is a right of passage that helps prepare students for future careers. Overall, the faculty at State University thus seems to be about evenly split in their support for student efforts to unionize.

A majority of the undergraduate students at State University don't seem to know anything about the unionization efforts. A few politically active students have joined public rallies supporting the unionization efforts. Others seem to have used the unionization issue to complain about the quality of teaching provided by graduate students. These students recently met with administrators to complain about having too many graduate students as instructors. Just last week the local newspaper printed an article detailing some of the problems experienced when courses are taught by graduate students.

As a community, State University thus seems to be quite divided over the unionization issue. No matter who prevails in the election, it seems likely that a large number of people will be unhappy with the result.

Question:

Do you think a union would help resolve the complaints of the teaching assistants?

What makes the position of teaching assistant different from many jobs frequently represented by unions?

Do you think the administration's response is appropriate?

If you were a graduate student at State University, would you vote for the union? Why?

Answer 1

As given in the case, the state university is facing certain issues regarding the manner in which the teaching assistants are being treated. This has led to formation of organized groups and plans to create a union which is being advised and led by labor union. In the given case, it shows clearly that the way in which the teaching assistants are being given work and given wages are not satisfactory and is poor in nature. The labor unions and similar groups have always worked on aspects similar to this where they have ti fight the execute leadership or the top management to convince them of the ground realities and issues and help in providing a proper solution. In this case too, the labor union think they can resolve the issue since they have good experience in dealing with similar cases. I believe the union can help the issue being faced by teaching assistants. Based on the limited information, it shows that the teaching assistants have been vocal and have expressed their issues and concerns but no significant actions have been taken to resolve these issues. To expedite the actions and to ensure there is a team monitoring the actions and providing resolutions, the union will provide a good platform and guide the teams to ensure they are being done properly. By brining the union in the picture, the assistants can be assured they can get the resolution to their ongoing crisis.

The position of a teaching assistant is different from other issues that may have been handled by the union. Most of the issues that are usually concerned with unions comes down to factories, services or similar industries where there is large pool of employees who are affected by decision from leadership teams. They do not have a proper forum to voice their opinions and concerns and this is where the unions come in and provide their expertise. In this case, the union will have to work with educational institutions who are treating the teaching assistants poorly. Though it is similar to other cases handled by the union, they may not have necessary expertise in the area. But they are the right source to channel the issues and ensure in getting the resolution to problems. There is also some support from certain faculty members. But the students have expressed their displeasure in teaching assistants doing all the harder sessions too while they do not have enough exposure to clear all the students queries. Also only 40% of the teaching assistants have agreed to work with union and is of the opinion that they are the right path forward. This might be in contrast with other areas where the unions might get full backing of the workers. These are few difference in the areas that are dealt by union.

Given the situation, the administrative team has decided to let the election be contested to give them an opportunity to challenge the issues. From that point, it seems a fair decision. No matter who wins the election there will be a section of people who will be unhappy and this cannot be changed by any decision from administrative decision. If the university takes a decision to improve the wages and help in a structured approach to working it will help the teaching assistant to do the work better. But till the election results are out, the decision by university to not make any changes seems fair. After the election is done, if the union wins, they can come to a compromise and this will help in building better relations between union and university.

If I were a graduate student at the university, I would definitely vote for the union. The unions have provided sufficient results across the globe and this is an area which can give results too if they are properly channeled and worked. I would support the union, because it will give the students too an opportunity to voice their concerns and union will help in providing that platform. They can also help in ensuring all the issues which are hampering the students life and the life of teaching assistants can be resolved faster.