The Oregon Employee Relations Board (ERB) ruled Jan. 4 that 680 graduate research assistants at Oregon State University in Corvallis can belong to a union. The board said research assistants, like their fellow teaching assistants, are public employees and have the right to organize and bargain collectively.
The research assistants petitioned the board last June for recognition with the Coalition of Graduate Employees Local 6069, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT)-Oregon. Local 6069 already represents some 900 teaching assistants at the university.
OSU objected, arguing that the research assistants were not employees.
ERB will mail ballots Feb. 21. The ballot will have two options: “Local 6069” or “No representation.” Ballots must be received (not postmarked) by March 7.
— PAI Union News Service
