Too Much Brown (University): New School Grad Students Are Ruled Not Employees

Are graduate students who teach and grade assignments employees or students?  In 2000, the National Labor Relations Board reversed their previous rulings on unionization at private universities by ruling that graduate assistants at New York University (NYU) were employees. Reason: They performed work. Therefore, they were eligible to unionize. In a 2004 case involving Brown University, the NLRB overruled the NYU policy. Reason: Ph.D. students must learn to teach as part of their professional training. Thus, they are not employees (though they are paid a TA stipend). My friend, Alan, passes along the latest chapter in this saga. At the New School, an NLRB Regional Director has dismissed a petition filed by grad students, citing Brown University. Quote from the ruling: “Because the [Union] seeks to represent individuals employed in classifications which fall within the term ‘graduate assistants,’ Brown is controlling, and therefore I am dismissing the petition."  News article here: http://www.thenation.com/article/are-graduate-students-workers/ .