International Scholar Rights
What Difference Does Unionization Make for International Scholars?
Forming a Union is a decisive step towards ensuring the success of all International Scholars. International scholars have always faced challenges and precarity on account of our status as visa holders and the University’s unilateral control over our terms of employment. That’s one of the reasons why so many of us are organizing to form a union at the University of Nevada – to negotiate for new rights and protections that can give us greater security.
Unionization is not just about individual benefits but about the collective power we can wield as a community. It allows us to negotiate for improvements that become part of a legally binding contract, providing greater security and protection. Moreover, it ensures that we don’t face problems alone and amplifies our voice on campus.
International Students Have the Same Legal Rights to Join a Union as U.S. Citizens
Over 120,000 academic workers, many of whom are international student employees, are already part of the same national union we are looking to join (UAW) and have bargained better standards into their collective bargaining agreements. Out of tens of thousands of international workers who are part of UAW, there has never been any reported instances of workers signing a union authorization card negatively impacting visa or permanent residency applications.
I am graduate teaching assistant in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology at UNR. My research focuses around lizard ecology in current and future warming climates. I support unionization to create a more equitable, professional and fair working environment for graduate student workers from the US and abroad (like myself!).
UAW 872 President Anand Balakrishnan, International Student Worker in Computer Science, speaking to Graduate Assistants at the University of Nevada about the movement we are joining.
We are stronger together
Until international scholars at UNR, UNLV, and DRI are able to form a union and negotiate a legally binding contract, we will continue to be vulnerable to having our employment terminated without cause, to discrimination based on our status as international scholars, and whatever changes in policy the University decides to impose. But thousands of GAs across the U.S. have formed unions and as a result, gained rights and benefits such as protections against harassment or discrimination based on nationality, funds for supporting visa fee renewals and legal support, elimination of fees imposed exclusively on international scholars, and contracts that are enforceable and cannot be terminated without just cause.
For example, GAs at USC won important new rights for international students through the immigration article of their union contract. Student Employees at the University of California raised standards and raised their pay by 25-55% through their union contract. Tens of thousands of other GAs have made similar progress by forming unions.
As an International Graduate Assistant at UNLV, I’ve discovered that my position lacks job security, as the university relies on unenforceable letters instead of contracts. As an international student, my options are even more limited, making it nearly impossible to maintain financial stability while pursuing my degree. This uncertainty (combined with a lack of summer income and restrictions on where I can work) creates significant stress to an already demanding academic and work life. A union would give us the power to negotiate for stable contracts, fair pay, and better working conditions. It would provide student workers with the security we need to focus on our studies and support the university more effectively. By coming together, we can create a more equitable and supportive environment for everyone, strengthening the entire institution.
I’m a graduate student researcher in Public Health at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. My research spans a variety of health issues, including behavioral health interventions for addiction. As essential contributors to research, teaching, and the university community, Graduate Assistants often face long hours, low pay, and job insecurity. Forming a union allows us to demand transparency and respect, ensuring our work is properly valued and compensated. Through union representation, we can negotiate for protections like paid leave, mental health resources, and stronger grievance procedures, creating a more equitable and supportive environment for all graduate student workers.
As an international student, I have seen and faced lot of hurdles to pursue my higher education here. The immigration laws and rules are not clearly explained. Most of the students do not even know what are they even eligible for or not on campus. The housing around campus especially for graduate Students is not available or if available too expensive. Post Covid there is this rule of mandatory 3 credits in person class but many departments are not aware of it, even aware choose to ignore it as professors are more comfortable online. This is a big hurdle for International Students and we have to enroll into random in person class not even required for the degree. Apart from these, issues like summer not being paid or paid less overall, insurance coverage range are other common issues, I would like to see being addressed via this union.
As a graduate worker, I believe that forming a union is essential for ensuring fair wages and improved working conditions. We deserve a voice in decisions that affect our work and wellbeing, and a union will provide the support we need to advocate for ourselves. Together, we can create a more equitable environment for all graduate workers.
Unionization gives international scholars a strong voice in policymaking and advocacy
Through unionizing international student workers have also:
- Formed support networks to build community to help one another adapt to living in the US. This includes providing accurate information about changing US immigration policy (like hosting information sessions with immigration attorneys).
- Worked for better US immigration policy, like increasing access to Optional Practical Training (OPT), opposing the “Fixed Duration of Status” rule, and working with members of congress Judy Chu (San Gabriel Valley) and Pramila Jayapal (Seattle) to oppose the shortened 1-year period of validity for Chinese entry visas. The Western States International Working group, made up of international UAW members from across the west coast, created this list of priorities for ongoing lobbying efforts.
- During the height of the pandemic, UAW Academic workers took action and succeeded in getting ICE to back down from its directive to deport international students taking online classes.
UAW Local 2865 and UAW 5810 union members with Congresswoman Judy Chu discussing her Dear Colleague Letter in support of Chinese international students at her office in Pasadena, 2018.
Will signing a union card affect visa or permanent residency applications that I may make in the future?
All international scholars have the same right to join and participate in unions as US permanent residents and citizens. Out of tens of thousands of international students, Postdocs, and researchers that are part of UAW, there has never been any reported instances of participation in a union negatively impacting visa or permanent residency applications.
What rights and protections have international scholars won through unionization at other institutions?
- Appointment Security and Guaranteed Minimum Appointment Lengths
Through unionization, academic workers have negotiated union contracts that state that the University cannot revoke your appointment once you’ve accepted it, unless they provide you with an alternative appointment or equivalent pay and benefits. If you are offered and accept a GAship, for example, the position cannot be taken away and your pay and benefits cannot be changed for the duration of your appointment. At the University of Nevada, individuals have experienced their GAship or other appointment being terminated mid-way through their appointment, without just cause. By negotiating our own union contracts, GAs and Postdocs and negotiate for greater job security and contractual protections against unfair discipline or dismissal. - Protections from Harassment and Discrimination
Unionized Graduate Assistants and Postdocs have much stronger rights to protect themselves against discrimination and harassment. This means that, through the Union, International Students have the ability to challenge decisions that disproportionately impact us because of our citizenship status or country of origin. For example, Academic Worker Unions have successfully campaigned to eliminate discriminatory student fees or tuition differentials that were assessed only on International Scholars.
Higher Wages, Lower Out of Pocket Fees, Better Health Insurance
Unionized Graduate Assistants and Postdocs have more power to bargain for higher wages, lower out of pocket student fees, better health insurance benefits, stronger Leave protections, paid time off, and many other improvements. You can see many examples here
How do faculty advisors or supervisors generally respond to unionizing?
Many supervisors appreciate working with unionized Graduate Assistants and Postdocs, because a union contract means GAs and Postdocs do not have to individually negotiate every term and condition of employment (from wages to health care to leave to childcare to non-discrimination protections to vacation to appointment letter terms, etc) and instead can focus on their teaching and research. Ultimately, the decision to sign authorization cards to form a union is one that GAs and Postdocs alone make.