Glad the NLRB gave decision in favor of the student unions. Though it is true that unionization in universities "would threaten to undermine the primary relationship, that of student to professor, advisee to mentor" , the grad students wouldn't have had to do this if the private universities with billions of dollars in endowments refused to provide basic and reasonable incentives.
NYU, for example only recently increased min pay to $15 per hour up from $10 after the union fought for like 2 years. It's a double edged sword to allow unions in universities, but given the state now, perhaps it's wise that they allowed them.
A barely-adequate salary for a BS in CS in some rather awful location is 50K. The _top end_ salaries for grad students are about 30K nationally. Most are in the 15-20K range. Many times, grad students can qualify for food stamps and other forms of welfare.
I would suggest that "professional median salary for holder of degree with 0-3 years experience" is the rubric that should be applied for compensation. More for relevant experience.
Of course, that would entirely shatter the entire US academic system, since it is, today, built on the backs of grad students working in penury (often having a blast, it must be said). The entire current system is built around VERY cheap willing labor.
a remark: grad students working for nil and startup employees working for nil have a facially similar appearance. The difference is the startup employees should have some fat options to compensate. The grad students don't have any upside...
exactly. With number and salaries of administrators (and various non-education positions like sport coaches, etc.) swelling, i don't see why the grads performing the actual labor of education, serving direct business purpose of universities/colleges, shouldn't be let in on their share of the pie.
NYU, for example only recently increased min pay to $15 per hour up from $10 after the union fought for like 2 years. It's a double edged sword to allow unions in universities, but given the state now, perhaps it's wise that they allowed them.