LANSING, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – Michigan Senate Democrats passed legislation on Wednesday that expanded the definition of a “public employee” to include “an individual serving as a graduate student research assistant (RA) or in an equivalent position.” Senate Bill 185 would allow graduate student research assistants to unionize.

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“I tell you, I’ve seen these people’s work, they certainly look like employees,” said bill sponsor Sen. Jeff Irwin (D-Ann Arbor). “They ought to have the same rights as other employees.”

The bill would change a 2021 law signed by former Michigan Governor Rick Snyder that excluded graduate student RAs from the Public Employment Relations Act on the grounds that they were in school primarily to advanced degrees, not wages. At the time, Snyder said, “Considering them to be public employees with union representation would alter the nature of the critical relationship between students and teachers, and risk the educational mission of the universities.”

Irwin says the new legislation will “right that wrong of 10 years ago when this Legislature rushed to prevent a group of people from collectively bargaining and realizing their voice as a group.”

The bill passed the Senate on party lines, with Republican lawmakers suggesting several amendments to the bill before voting against it.

“This legislation shows that in the eyes of Democrats no industry is safe from misguided government interference,” Sen. Kevin Daley (R-Lum) said in a floor speech.

Meanwhile, at the University of Michigan, graduate instructor strikes have lasted for nearly a month. Over 50 faculty members are withholding final grades in solidarity with the strikers.

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“Students are missing class time they’ve paid incredibly high tuition rates for due to this strike,” the Michigan GOP said on Twitter. “Once again, Democrats are putting union bosses before the people.”