When Igor Cerasa GS joined the Graduate Labor Organization, a student employee union that advocates for graduate workers’ needs and protections, he was optimistic.

The Graduate Labor Organization, Brown’s graduate student union, announced the election of its first 14-member executive board Nov. 8.

In the coming days, graduate student teaching and research assistants at Brown will vote on whether or not to unionize. This is an incredibly important decision.

Over the past few years, graduate students at the University, like graduate students at many other universities, have been organizing to form a union.

Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees and the American Federation of Teachers notified the University of their intention to file an election petition for graduate student unionization, according to an Oct. 11 AFT press release.

After reaching a pre-election agreement with Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees over the summer, the University has been working with the student group to carry out the terms of the agreement.

I write regarding the article of Feb. 2, 2018, “SUGSE fears University stalling talks on grad student unionization,” and to respond to and correct some of the points made in the article.

The University and graduate students have not yet been able to reach a decision on union pre-elections, according to Stand Up for Graduate Student Employees.

Graduate student voters selected the American Federation of Teachers as their union affiliate should unionization occur.

Today, the debate over graduate student unionization at the University starts a new chapter.