Higher Education in a Global Pandemic
The past two years has demonstrated the extent to which the university depends on graduate employees, not just to do our jobs as outlined in our contract but to go above and beyond in making the unworkable workable. Despite this, the administration continues to view us as afterthoughts, as expendable labor that can be used or neglected whenever convenient. This isn’t just wrong, factually and morally. It is bad for our students, our university, and higher education as an institution. We can’t let this continue.
Are you concerned about admin’s response to the pandemic?
Join the Organizing Committee.
Email us at union@tugsa.org to get more information.
The morning of March 23, 2020, we sent a letter to the university administration laying out a set of policies that we believe are the bare minimum necessary to support our fellow graduate workers during these difficult times. Shortly after receiving our letter, the head of Human Resources sent us a short and inadequate response which addressed neither the concerns expressed by our union nor the proposed policies aimed at resolving those issues. We responded with a massively supported email campaign.
Our March 23 letter to the administration contains the following proposals:
The expansion of insurance coverage to cover 100% of the costs of healthcare for all graduate workers and their dependents.
The extension of existing graduate worker contracts from 9 months to 12 months to guarantee a basic level of income for grad workers through the summer months.
The commitment of the university to working with all relevant bodies to ensure that international student workers are able to stay in the United States to work and study should they so choose.
The refund of all university fees prorated to the date in which the associated services became unavailable.
Several of our members have compiled a thorough FAQ providing answers to important questions dealing with COVID-19, from housing to healthcare. If you have access to a resource that you think would benefit your fellow graduate students, please send it to secretary@tugsa.org. With any additional questions and concerns, please feel free to contact us.