Trustees of Columbia University
National Labor Relations Board
364 N.L.R.B. No. 90, 364 N.L.R.B. 1080 (2016)
- Written by Tammy Boggs, JD
Facts
Columbia University (Columbia) (defendant) accepted graduate students in various academic departments. Columbia fully funded the Ph.D. candidates, providing tuition and a stipend. Ph.D. candidates were required to teach as part of their academic requirements. Additionally, some of Columbia’s master’s degree and undergraduate students were paid to serve as teaching assistants. Certain graduate students conducted research funded by the university or external grant money. External grant money was income to Columbia, which paid and directed the graduate-student researchers. A labor union (the union) (plaintiff) sought to represent both graduate and undergraduate teaching assistants and graduate research assistants at Columbia. The union filed a petition before the National Labor Relations Board (the board), which was dismissed by the regional director. The board reviewed the matter. The board had previously decided in another case that paid graduate students were not statutory employees under the National Labor Relations Act and was called on to reconsider the issue.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (No information provided)
Dissent (Miscimarra, Member)
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