Today, Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney (D-New Haven) released the following statement regarding Local 33’s successful National Labor Relations Board election to unionize Yale University graduate teachers and researchers..
“This victory for Yale graduate teachers and researchers is a long time coming. So many have given their time and energy to this cause and now, finally, a union will be formed. Local 33 will now be able to secure better pay, benefits, and working conditions for current and future graduate student workers at Yale. In addition, this 10-1 landslide victory sends a message to other universities with similar ongoing campaigns underway or contemplated that they must acknowledge that graduate student workers are truly ‘workers’ who provide substantial benefits to their universities. Also, I hope and expect that Yale’s administration will immediately begin a good faith negotiation with Local 33 to quickly reach agreement on a first contract.”