Inside Higher Ed: Return of Grad Union Movement
Unions worked hard for President Obama in November — and those in academic unions have had high hopes that his actions would revive the movement to organize graduate teaching assistants at private universities.
In his first move related to the National Labor Relations Board, Obama has cheered those unions by designating as chair Wilma B. Liebman, who is on record as backing collective bargaining rights for private universities’ graduate teaching assistants. Liebman was originally appointed to the NLRB by President Clinton, and she was one of two members who wrote a strong dissent to the 2004 decision that effectively shut down union organizing at private institutions. While she has the same vote as chair as do other members, the signs suggest that her views won’t be in the minority.
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