For Immediate Release: Monday, May 4, 2020
Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, rhufnagel@usw.org, 412-562-2450
Elizabeth Ussery, eussery@usw.org, 412-562-5001
UNION COMMITTEE LEADS CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE AID FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADS
PITTSBURGH – Graduate student workers at the University of Pittsburgh, who are leading an effort to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union, were instrumental in a successful campaign to ensure emergency aid for graduate students born outside the United States.
Last week, the university informed domestic grad students that they would be eligible for grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the CARES Act legislation that Congress passed in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Many domestic graduate students received aid automatically, while international graduate students did not.
“As an international grad student, this crisis has been particularly difficult to face,” said Sri Chatterjee, a graduate student worker in the English department. “We are dealing with travel restrictions, the loss of internships, the loss of research opportunities. Some of our colleagues will lose out on research or teaching positions. Many of us are wondering if we will even be able to pay our rent.”
Following the university’s initial communication to grads last week, the international subcommittee of the Graduate Student Organizing Committee immediately began to take action to push for equal treatment of international students. Students flooded the administration with emails, launched an online petition and participated in a widespread social media campaign to ensure parity. Pitt later informed its international grad students that they would be eligible for aid equivalent to what domestic students received.
“This is a perfect example of why we need collective action. When we stand together and fight for equality, everyone wins,” said Danny Doucette, a graduate student worker in the physics department. “We applaud the university for taking this first step, but there is much more work to be done before this is over. We will continue to be diligent.”
Chatterjee said the aid process for international students is far too vague and the funds available insufficient for the scope of the crisis.
“The application and documentation process that international grads must navigate to receive help has been far too difficult and invasive, which has only heightened the fear and anxiety we already face,” she said. “The process has to be much more transparent, and the help that grads receive must be sufficient to ensure that all grad students — both domestic and international — can make it through this crisis and continue our work.”
Pitt grad student workers began their unionization effort in 2016. They fell just short of victory in a vote last spring, an outcome that came as a result of unfair labor practices by the university. A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) hearing examiner upheld the union’s complaints and ordered a new election, but the university has contested that ruling.
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.
Contact: R.J. Hufnagel, rhufnagel@usw.org, 412-562-2450
Elizabeth Ussery, eussery@usw.org, 412-562-5001
UNION COMMITTEE LEADS CAMPAIGN TO ENSURE AID FOR INTERNATIONAL GRADS
PITTSBURGH – Graduate student workers at the University of Pittsburgh, who are leading an effort to join the United Steelworkers (USW) union, were instrumental in a successful campaign to ensure emergency aid for graduate students born outside the United States.
Last week, the university informed domestic grad students that they would be eligible for grants as part of the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund, part of the CARES Act legislation that Congress passed in response to the COVID-19 crisis.
Many domestic graduate students received aid automatically, while international graduate students did not.
“As an international grad student, this crisis has been particularly difficult to face,” said Sri Chatterjee, a graduate student worker in the English department. “We are dealing with travel restrictions, the loss of internships, the loss of research opportunities. Some of our colleagues will lose out on research or teaching positions. Many of us are wondering if we will even be able to pay our rent.”
Following the university’s initial communication to grads last week, the international subcommittee of the Graduate Student Organizing Committee immediately began to take action to push for equal treatment of international students. Students flooded the administration with emails, launched an online petition and participated in a widespread social media campaign to ensure parity. Pitt later informed its international grad students that they would be eligible for aid equivalent to what domestic students received.
“This is a perfect example of why we need collective action. When we stand together and fight for equality, everyone wins,” said Danny Doucette, a graduate student worker in the physics department. “We applaud the university for taking this first step, but there is much more work to be done before this is over. We will continue to be diligent.”
Chatterjee said the aid process for international students is far too vague and the funds available insufficient for the scope of the crisis.
“The application and documentation process that international grads must navigate to receive help has been far too difficult and invasive, which has only heightened the fear and anxiety we already face,” she said. “The process has to be much more transparent, and the help that grads receive must be sufficient to ensure that all grad students — both domestic and international — can make it through this crisis and continue our work.”
Pitt grad student workers began their unionization effort in 2016. They fell just short of victory in a vote last spring, an outcome that came as a result of unfair labor practices by the university. A Pennsylvania Labor Relations Board (PLRB) hearing examiner upheld the union’s complaints and ordered a new election, but the university has contested that ruling.
The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.
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