Greetings,

Thanks to a strong union, TAs and GAs at Rutgers have a pretty sweet deal: competitive pay, health care, workload protections and more. But all too often I meet a grad student who tells me, "I'm not really a TA"--followed by a description of the most exploitative arrangement that a department can get desperate students to swallow. Recently, graduate students told me they are working for $7500/year (still paying full student fees!), only on student health coverage, and working up to 30 hours/week or more!

That's outrageous! But these jobs are NOT protected by our contract... but it's time we do something about it! There are a variety of options available to a strong union looking to see justice done--but first we need your help! We need to know where and how this happens so we can get a complete picture of the problem, and we can't rely on the University to give us all the information we need.

Do you know anyone in a similar situation? Ask your friends. Let us know. And let them know that the union is on their side. Together we are stronger!

In unity,

Elric Kline
Chair, TA/GA Steering Committee
taga@gsa.rutgers.edu