U-M Deans: Unionization Scares Off ‘Best and Brightest’ Research Talent

Michigan Capitol Confidential ^ | 10/2/2011 | Kathy Hoekstra

[MichCapCon]

Graduate student research assistants at the University of Michigan who do not want to belong to a union have some high-profile allies who have kept a low profile.

The Mackinac Center has obtained a confidential letter to U of M Provost Philip Hanlon expressing a “deep and collective concern about the potential negative impacts that would result from the unionization of the University’s graduate student research assistants.”

The letter was signed by 18 Deans of the university’s 19 schools and colleges. Also signing was the University Librarian and Dean of Libraries. The lone holdout was Christopher Kendall, Dean of the School of Music, Theatre & Dance.

Kendall, however, told the Mackinac Center in an email that he was on board as well:

"The School of Music, Theatre and Dance strongly supported the position articulated in the deans' letter. We didn't sign it simply because the role of our two GSRAs doesn't correspond precisely with the description in the letter. Again, however, the School was strongly in accord with the principles expressed by the deans."

The union, known as the Graduate Employees Organization (GEO), was founded at U of M in 1970, which, according to its website, makes the GEO ”one of the oldest graduate employee unions in the United States.” The GEO currently represents graduate student instructors and graduate student staff assistants, but earlier this year made moves to expand its membership at the Ann Arbor campus by including graduate student research assistants.

[muawiyah]

Hmm ~ still trying to figure out why somebody would unionize graduate assistants.

[thackney]

As long as we are clicking on links for excerpted blog post on a member funded forum...

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2787772/posts

That is a good link to click.

[This I Wonder32460]

“Hmm ~ still trying to figure out why somebody would unionize graduate assistants.”

Expand “their” profit from dues collection? I’m guessing the “their” who collects would be union officials/dues collectors.

[muawiyah]

Bartenders have tried for centuries to make profits off graduate students.

I'm here to tell you IT DOESN'T WORK.

You must make your mark with the UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS!