A union that represents graduate assistants rallied on the University of Nevada campus on Wednesday.
Union members say they represent grad assistants at UNR, UNLV and the Desert Research Institute.
They say they want the university to bargain with them to address issues of harassment and discrimination, retaliation for speaking out against working conditions, and higher pay.
"They struggle to meet their basic living expenses week in and week out. So again, we're asking the University to solve these issues through collective bargaining,” Claire Williams.
They say more than 1,500 graduate assistants have signed union cards.
They're also supporting Assembly Bill 191 in the legislature – it would create collective bargaining rights for NSHE hire education employees and graduate assistants.
The Nevada System of Higher Education released this statement:
“NSHE values the contributions of graduate assistants in advancing the academic and research missions of our institutions. Assembly Bill 191 is currently under consideration by the Nevada Legislature and, if passed, that bill will mandate bargaining according to the processes and procedures set forth in the bill. As NSHE awaits the outcome of the legislative process, discussions continue at both the System and institutional levels to better understand graduate assistants' concerns and explore solutions outside of the collective bargaining process. NSHE remains committed to working collaboratively to support the success of graduate assistants while carefully considering the necessary planning and resources required to address their needs.”
We've also asked the University of Nevada for a response to the union's concerns.
