Grad Student Union members rally on Warriner Mall
Brian ManzulloThe Graduate Student Union is one step closer to deciding who will be included in its member rolls.
A pre-hearing conference for the union was held Thursday at a Michigan Employment Relations Commission office in Detroit.
The meeting discussed possible dates for a hearing to discuss who should be included in the union, said Jon Curtiss, union organizer and member of the American Federation of Teachers.
They are looking at the end of April or the beginning of May, he said.
"We still hope that either the administration will change their position to what we've already proposed or maybe have a compromise," Curtiss said.
As of their last discussions, the university's lawyer wants to exclude research assistants and administrative assistants from the union.
The Graduate Student Union held a rally Wednesday at Warriner Mall in hopes of softening the university's position.
More than 30 people showed up wearing yellow hard hats and buttons to advocate for research assistants and administrative assistants to be included in the union.
The hats and buttons read "research = work."
Mike Hoerger, a Midland graduate student, said they were there for democracy and a voice in power.
"I hope the administration will come to their senses and include research assistants and administrative assistants," Hoerger said.
Bob Martin, associate vice provost of faculty personnel services, said the union has been given opportunities formally and informally to speak to the university through its advocates about who is best fit for the union.
"They want to speak to particular members of the university," Martin said. "That's not appropriate."
Curtiss said he hoped the rally would ruffle some feathers and get the university to hear what the union has to say.
Martin said he had no comment about the rally. Before the rally, about 35 graduate students spread out throughout campus to try to educate the community on the issues.
Flyers and Ramen noodles were passed out. On the Ramen noodle packages was a sticker labeled "Solidarity Noodles."
The sticker gave the definition of solidarity, which is mutual sympathy and support.
"It reminds people that we are all poor, struggling to get by," Hoerger said. "That unites us."
Shelley Leininger, an Ohio graduate student, said the union's main goal is to educate the university and gain support for the cause.
"We feel that we are productive employees of the university," Leininger said.
Leininger said she is hoping to have a face-to-face conversation with the university within the next week, so the union can vote soon about making the union official.
"We've worked so hard to get people signed up," she said. "We will lose them if they graduate."
Nancy White, president of the Faculty Association, showed support for the union at the rally.
"I want you to know that the Faculty Association supports the graduate students to unionize," White said at the rally.
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