Will graduate students at Harvard join the ranks of Big Labor?

Jill E. Steinman writes at The Harvard Crimson:

Graduate Students Start Movement To Unionize

In a move that could alter the working dynamic between Harvard and many of its teaching fellows and Ph.D. seekers, a group of graduate students has begun an effort to unionize, according to members of the movement.

Aaron T. Bekemeyer and Elaine F. Stranahan, graduate students involved in the unionization effort, said Friday that the movement is still in its early stages, but added that it counts members from all three divisions of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. Bekemeyer and Stranahan did not share the number of participants with The Crimson.

The Harvard graduate students join peers at Yale in organizing to unionize. If the movement is successful, it could change the way graduate students interact with the University, according to members who envisioned a more centralized complaint system and suggested that a union could empower graduate students in negotiations with Harvard.

“We are interested in making the University a better place for grad students to do the best research and teaching that they can do,” Bekemeyer said.

Stranahan said she hopes Harvard and its graduate students can see eye-to-eye.