UMD graduate students join the fight for unionizing on campus
Dan Greene, assistant professor of Information Studies and the Organizing Director of the Maryland AAUP, speaking to the crowd while also introducing the next speaker. (Alexa Henry/The Black Explosion)
The Graduate Student Union joined forces with other labor unions on Sept. 21 in front of the Hornbake Library to rally for collective bargaining rights for university workers.
“We, the Graduate Labor Union, represent the backbone of this institution. We are the researchers. We are the teachers. We are the mentors and the other contributors who made this university,” said research assistant for the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Science Akanksha Singh.
In recent months, University of Maryland workers have demanded better working conditions for those who are employed by UMD. Labor groups such as United Students Against Sweatshops Local 54, the American Association of University Professors and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 1072 came to support the rally.
The rally consisted of students like Rigby Philips, an administrative assistant for McKeldin Library who is earning a dual master's in history and library science, handing out forums for other students to sign and educating those who had questions about what the rally was for. She said they are fighting for the bargaining rights of graduate students and faculty members, while also addressing some undergraduate labor demands like a higher minimum wage for student workers.
She gave the example of how teacher’s assistants and graduate assistants often work over the amount of time they are scheduled for that week, which can interfere with their studies.
“One of the things that the university likes to say is that we're students, not workers. But when our work that we do is regularly getting in the way of our work as students, it's not really fair,” said Philips.
Philips wasn’t the only student who expressed concerns about working conditions among students. Singh said that the international students are also affected.
“We grappled with Visa uncertainties, financial burdens, and the daunting task of acclimating to a new academic and cultural environment. Our experiences enrich the fabric of this university by bringing diverse perspectives and ideas. However, our contributions go unnoticed, and our concerns are unaddressed,” said Singh.
Attendance at the rally holding a sign saying “College Park is a union town.” (Alexa Henry/The Black Explosion)
In between speakers, Rob Cheng, a graduate assistant in Library Acquisitions and a student in the Master of Library and Information Science, led chants expressing the anger and frustration that attendees felt.
“Who does the research?”, Cheng said to the crowd.
“We do the research!” the crowd answered.
Dan Greene, assistant professor of Information Studies and the Organizing Director of the Maryland AAUP, helped organize the rally and introduced the speakers.
Tita Chico, one of the representatives of AAUP at the rally and an English professor, spoke about the unfair working conditions the professors at the university are under. She said that administrative classes have grown by 40% since 2015. Those who are being hired are receiving less pay and no long-term contracts according to Chico.
President of the AFSCME Local 1072, Todd Holden, was also in attendance to support the union efforts. AFSCME Local 1072 represents over 3,400 university employees and held their rally in August when they were demanding better conditions for workers. Holden said that since then there have been some changes.
One major change Holden said is that all of the AFSCME-represented unions in higher education are currently in negotiations for a master contract. They are bargaining directly with the University Systems of Maryland for a single contract.
“We've been at it for 13 months and yet we still are waiting for specific answers and specific information from management about what they plan to do in order to help secure this contract,” said Holden, “To date it's been almost impossible to directly negotiate wages with the campus and it's been impossible to directly negotiate wages with the USM. They say that they have no control over that process.”
Tita Chico is a representative of AAUP and a professor of English. She spoke about the unfair working conditions and pressures faculty face as attendance continues to grow at UMD. (Alexa Henry/The Black Explosion)
Holden noted that some wages for employees have increased due to their “union activity” in recent years. Holden did point out that representatives of the AFSCME that are also university workers are working to raise more wages but he says some employees are still behind inflation.
Greene ended the rally by encouraging attendees to join them Sept. 22 at 8:30 A.M. at the Marriott in College Park to continue their efforts of demanding change.