The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition met with dean of graduate students James Wimbush this week to discuss the university committee’s recommendations.
IU Board of Trustees denied recognition of a graduate student union last month, following months of protests supported by IU faculty. Instead, the university formed a task force to tackle graduate students’ concerns. The eight-person task force, which includes one graduate student, is set to release its initial recommendations at the end of the month.
Wimbush invited representatives from those seeking union recognition to attend a meeting this week to discuss an improvement in wages and conditions for graduate students.
Coalition representative Katie Shy said the meeting showed the university’s incoherence in its plan to meet with the coalition.
“It’s a little bit unclear exactly what they hope to get from us that doesn’t first go through this issue of ‘can we collectively bargain and have some say over our own lives,’” Shy said.
The coalition’s main point throughout the meeting was union recognition. According to Shy, the dean made it clear that the meeting wouldn’t be about the union.
IU faculty and students have expressed their discontent with the university’s task force.
While the task force is looking into issues core to graduate student life, Shy said that dialogue simply cannot exist without going through the union.
Shy said the coalition is interested in continuously meeting with the administration. “I think it is productive for that conversation to play out,” she said.
Shy expects the task force’s recommendations to be smart and in good faith. She doesn’t believe they will be able to address the need for short- and long-term solutions, however.
The coalition hopes to keep meeting with administration, including IU Bloomington Provost Rahul Shrivastav.
Dean Wimbush did not reply to comment in time for publication.
