TRACBRA: TRACBRA FAQs

From CGEU

Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act FAQs

What is the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act?

The Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act amends the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) to guarantee the right to form unions for teaching and research assistants at private universities and colleges. The National Labor Relations Act is a federal law that often serves as the standard on which states model their labor protections. A stronger NLRA means more security for existing and future state protections.

Whom in Congress supports the TA and RA Collective Bargaining Rights Act?

Yes, some of the most prominent members of Congress are involved with this legislation. Senator Edward Kennedy and Representative George Miller introduced the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act and Senators Barak Obama and Hillary Clinton -- among others -- are co-sponsoring the legislation. Our UAW and Congressional allies are still working to let representatives know that this bill matters, but the best way to send a message to Congress is for constituents like you to sign our Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act petition and let Congress know that voters care about this bill. To sign the petition, go to: www.ipetitions.com/petition/TA_rights/. More and more legislators are signing on to support the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act. For a full list of sponsors, please visit http://thomas.loc.gov/ and enter the bill number, H.R. 5838.

Will my advisor/anyone know I have signed the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act petition?

Yes. It’s powerful for us to be public about our support – that’s how we’ll convince Congress to support the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act. The petition is a public petition and part of a national campaign whose effectiveness depends on visibility. People all across the country publicly posting their signatures will send a real message to Congress – there’s power and safety in numbers.

I’ve signed the petition. What else can I do to help?

You can call your Congressperson or contact GSOC/UAW to help arrange a face-to-face meeting to let them know what you think. You can also write a handwritten letter asking them to support the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act. Telephone calls and emails are also good, but less effective than personalized letters and office visits. If you decide to write a letter or would like to arrange an office visit with your Congressperson, please be sure to coordinate your efforts through GSOC/UAW so that we can be most effective in our campaign to make the Teaching and Research Assistants Collective Bargaining Rights Act become federal law.