UAW Asks NLRB to Back TA Unions at Private Universities

The United Auto Workers, acting on behalf of teaching assistants and research assistants at Columbia University and the New School, has asked the National Labor Relations Board to hold elections on bids by the UAW to represent the T.A.s and R.A.s. Current NLRB policy considers these workers at private universities to be primarily students, and not eligible for unionization. But the NLRB has changed considerably since that ruling, and the UAW hopes that a more union-friendly NLRB will reverse that ruling. Private university leaders are expected to oppose any change in NLRB policy.