UConn graduate assistants vote to form union

HARTFORD, Conn. – More than 2,100 graduate assistants working at the University of Connecticut have won the right to form what will be the largest bargaining group at the school.

The State Board of Labor Relations certified the petitions submitted by the group last Thursday. The vote means graduate assistants, research assistants, and teaching assistants will be represented by the United Auto Workers union.

Prior to last week’s decision regarding union certification, the UConn Board of Trustees voted to remain neutral during the organizing process.

The 2,135 graduate assistants will become the largest union on the campus, followed by the faculty with about 1,700 members, and the staff union which has about 1,600 members. According to a university spokeswoman, about 85 percent of UConn’s employees are unionized.

“The university has been, and will continue to be, neutral with regard to this effort,” Stephanie Reitz, a spokeswoman for the university, said. “Individual graduate students are free to make their own decisions. The university and its senior administrators will not seek to influence the decision of any GA.”

See the complete story at CT News Junkie.