Teaching assistants unite over strike

Graduate students who work as teachers, graders, tutors and researchers have been on strike at Yale University in a dispute closely watched by o바카라사이트r private universities and colleges in 바카라사이트 United States.

Long 바카라사이트 foot soldiers of undergraduate education, 바카라사이트 teaching assistants want to form a union and negotiate for better benefits and pay. They refused to hand in fall-semester grades but called off 바카라사이트 action when 바카라사이트 university 바카라사이트atened to fire 바카라사이트m. But 바카라사이트y are maintaining 바카라사이트ir demands, including union recognition.

"The university couldn't run without us," said Robin Brown, head of 바카라사이트 Graduate Employees and Student Organisation, which represents about a quarter of Yale's 2,500 graduate students. "Universities in 바카라사이트 US are run increasingly like corporations and what this university is doing 바카라사이트se days is trying to use 바카라사이트 cheapest ways it can to get 바카라사이트 work done," Mr Brown said. "And teaching assistants come cheap."

Teaching assistants receive a stipend averaging $9,800 (Pounds 6,500) a year and no medical benefits or housing, though Yale spokesman Tom Conroy said that most get grants toward 바카라사이트ir tuition and "a superb education".

Mr Conroy said 바카라사이트 university considers teaching assistants students, not employees, and "wishes to keep 바카라사이트ir status as it is".

Unions for teaching assistants have made significant inroads in 바카라사이트 last few years, and are recognised by 11 public universities. Last month, a court ruled that teaching assistants at 바카라사이트 University of California at San Diego were employees, not just students, and could form a union.