Maryland Graduate Students and Faculty Demand Collective Bargaining Rights

Introduction

Graduate students and faculty at Maryland public universities are calling for collective bargaining rights, as over 20,000 academic workers in the state are currently unable to join a union. Despite Maryland having a Democratic majority in its legislature and a Democratic governor, these workers are still denied this right. Jaisal Noor reports from Annapolis.

A Call for Respect and Dignity

Sen. Ben Kramer questions why these workers are being denied their rights, emphasizing that they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity. Lenora Knowles, a graduate student, shares her struggle of living paycheck to paycheck and not earning a living wage, stating that she is just one life crisis away from not being able to pay rent.

Rallying for the Right to Unionize

Over 50 professors, graduate students, and their supporters gathered to rally for the right to join a union. Linda Foley highlights that even the University of Iowa grants collective bargaining rights to grad assistants, and Maryland should follow suit.

Hope for Change

Although Maryland denies collective bargaining rights to its professors and grad assistants, supporters remain hopeful that this year will bring about a change. With a Democratic trifecta and supermajority in the state legislature, almost all other state workers can already join a union. Sen. Jill Carter emphasizes the need for collective bargaining to improve outcomes for students, provide fair treatment, and ensure access to resources.

Students as Workers

University officials argue that grad assistants cannot unionize because they are considered students rather than workers. However, Ivy Lyons argues that grad assistants do perform work and should be compensated and supported accordingly. She stresses the importance of recognizing the value of their work and the security they need to survive.

A Model for Change

Grad students at Johns Hopkins, a private university based in Maryland, have already voted overwhelmingly to unionize in 2023. Justin Otter from Johns Hopkins expresses solidarity with the fight of public Maryland universities, stating that strong academic unions lead to better conditions for academic workers and ultimately provide students with the best education possible.

Beyond Pay and Benefits

Union benefits extend beyond better pay, benefits, and working conditions. Luka Arsenjuk explains that unionizing would not only improve the conditions of grad students and faculty but also have a positive impact on higher education as a whole.

A Democratic Right

Marcus Johnson asserts that collective bargaining is a simple democratic right and points out that Maryland has a super majority of Democrats. He calls on legislators to fulfill their duties and support collective bargaining, as it aligns with the fundamental platform of the Democratic Party in this critical election year.

Conclusion

Graduate students and faculty in Maryland are demanding collective bargaining rights to improve their working conditions and ensure fair treatment. With a Democratic majority in the state, organizers believe it is crucial for incumbent Democrats to support this cause and deliver for working people.

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By: Jaisal Noor
Title: Maryland Graduate Students and Faculty Demand Collective Bargaining Rights
Sourced From: therealnews.com/grad-students-and-faculty-fight-for-collective-bargaining-in-deep-blue-maryland
Published Date: Tue, 13 Feb 2024 23:05:34 +0000