Push for Union Recognition Intensifies for Nevada Graduate Workers
In Nevada, the call for union recognition among graduate student workers is gaining momentum. During press briefings in Reno and Las Vegas, representatives of the Nevada Graduate Student Workers Union presented a letter to the Nevada System of Higher Education (NSHE) officials, signed by a majority of state legislators, urging for the union’s official recognition and the initiation of collective bargaining talks.
Noah Nieman, a graduate assistant in his fourth year at the University of Nevada, Reno, highlighted the critical role graduate assistants play in the university’s operations. He pointed out that despite their significant contributions, many face precarious financial and professional conditions. He expressed, “We don’t have the basic protections in the workplace from discrimination and harassment. And many of us struggle to afford housing and food,” emphasizing the need for unionization to tackle these challenges.
Graduate assistants assert that they are responsible for a substantial portion of the research and teaching workload at Nevada’s universities, with some reporting commitments exceeding 40 hours weekly while receiving compensation for only half that time. Additionally, they have shared accounts of food insecurity, experiences of workplace harassment, and the instability of their work appointments.
Keely Rodriguez, a graduate assistant in the chemistry department at UNR, recounted her experiences with unsafe working conditions, citing instances of being belittled by a supervisor and being placed in risky situations by another while under the influence. “Without a union, graduate workers lack independent avenues for addressing unsafe working environments,” Rodriguez stated. “We deserve a workplace where our rights and safety are respected.”
The union has garnered backing from over 2,500 graduate assistants, with more than two-thirds signing union authorization cards. Yet, despite this overwhelming support, NSHE has withheld recognition of the union, expressing concerns about collective bargaining.
The movement has found allies in the Nevada Legislature. Assemblywoman Erica Roth, a union member who spoke at the Reno event, expressed commitment to supporting legislation initiated by Senator Roberta Lange this session. Roth affirmed, “As Democrats in the Nevada Legislature, we will be moving forward in support of any legislation to help these graduate students. Their work and research are invaluable, and it’s time for NSHE to recognize their union and come to the table.”
