Breaking: University files amicus brief against graduate student unionization
Daily Princetonian StaffThe University filed an amicus brief to the National Labor Relations Board on Monday against graduate student unionization along with eight other private universities.The brief was filed in a Columbia University case before the NLRB regarding unionization of graduate students at the school.The brief argues that relationship between graduate students and private universities should be defined as strictly academic, and urges the NLRB not to reverse the 2004 Brown University ruling that graduate teaching assistants should primarily be considered as students, not employees."Amici believe that reversal or modification of Brown would significantly damage private sector graduate education in this country and will represent an inappropriate intrusion into long protected areas of academic freedom and autonomy," the brief reads.The brief explains that the institutions who signed the brief do not measure teaching and research in commercial or economic terms, adding that the institutions consider teaching experience as a crucial component of preparing doctoral candidates for careers.The brief further adds that the market value of teaching services provided by doctoral candidates is not taken into consideration when determining stipends provided to graduate student who teach.