UNLV grad students want to unionize.
Krista Diamond, a UNLV graduate student in creative writing, says she and others are working toward that end for both UNLV and UNR.
On KNPR’s State of Nevada program Wednesday, she said unionizing in Nevada “feels relevant because we live in a union town.”
At the same time, grad students across the country—even undergrad students in California—are starting to unionize.
“I think it’s time for graduate workers to be a part of that,” Diamond said. “We already have a union presence on campus (with café workers).
“A lot of graduate students are also graduate workers, which means we teach, we work as teaching assistants and so many different things that graduate students do and that the university relies on … for labor.”
Pay is a big issues, as both graduate students at UNLV and UNR have previously said the rising cost of housing and other expenses are rising faster than the stipends they are paid by the university system.
Diamond was a guest on State of Nevada, which opened its microphones and social media to the issues and concerns of listeners.
Among other issues that listeners chimed in about were the ongoing 100-plus-degree temperatures hitting Las Vegas in late September, the use of artificial intelligence by students, and the presidential race.
Guest: Krista Diamond, UNLV PhD candidate in creative writing and contributor, Desert Companion
