COLUMBUS, Ohio, Oct. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ — The American Federation of Teachers today released a report, Recognition and Respect: Standards of Good Practice in the Employment of Graduate Employees, which outlines a coordinated program to improve the financial and professional circumstances of graduate employees. The report, available at http://www.aft.org/pubs- reports/higher_ed/grad_employee_standards.pdf , offers suggestions on issues such as setting standards for compensation, establishing fair employment practices, promoting standards of professional responsibility and ensuring full rights for graduate employees in their union.
“Universities treat graduate employees like teachers and researchers when there is work to be done and as second-class citizens when it comes to compensation and fair treatment,” said AFT’s director of Higher Education Lawrence Gold. The AFT represents more college and university faculty than any other union, and was the first to organize graduate employees.