NLRB Says University Graduate Assistants Are Employees

Private colleges and universities across the country are preparing for increased workers’ compensation premiums after the National Labor Relations Board ruled last month that graduate students who are paid teaching or research assistants should be regarded as employees. The ruling was in response to a petition from the Graduate Workers of Columbia University, a group that wants to unionize and engage in collective bargaining. In addition to addressing the question of unionization, the ruling conferred other rights, according to Jean Demchak, education and public entity practice leader a...