Last semester the local papers extensively covered the contract negotiations between the University of Illinois’ graduate teaching assistants and the University of Illinois. Teaching assistants play a vital role in the educational process of major universities across the nation, picking up the slack for tenured professors who, aside from educating undergraduates, also perform vital research in the field of their expertise. From teaching classes and conducting review sessions to grading exams and papers, there is no doubt that their work is essential to a university such as Illinois. It came to my surprise, however, when last semester the teaching assistants threatened – and then did – strike over what they felt was inadequate compensation. Even more surprising was the fact that they were unionized, and actually had the power to act on such tactics.
I was once a graduate assistant, and know first hand the sacrifices and difficulties that come along with such a position. Imagine working a full time job where your pay comes in the form of an education, a few meals a week, and maybe (if you’re lucky), a small monthly stipend of a few hundred dollars. I, like many others wishing to land a good collegiate coaching job, was happy just to get such a position. Even with the low pay and long hours, the lure of making a career out of something you are passionate about draws huge pools of applicants and the competition for these positions is tough. These jobs have become something of a rite of passage for those wishing to coach full time, and a way to weed out those that are less than 100 percent committed to the field.
Before the contract negotiations last semester, these part-time teaching assistants at the University of Illinois were compensated with tuition, health benefits, as well as salaries on the order of more than $13,000 a year. Taking into account the value of graduate school tuition and health benefits, it could be argued that they were paid approximately $27,000 a year for their part time position. Keep in mind that school is in session only about 28 weeks out of the year, and all of the sudden (at least in my opinion), this doesn’t seem like too bad of a way to spend two years of your life.
A few things to note about the financial situation currently facing the University of Illinois:
- The state of Illinois currently has the second worse credit rating in the nation, and this year the University has received only 7% of what is normally allotted from the state.
- Recently, a hiring freeze has been implemented for all vacant university positions. Many departments will have to continue to maintain their high standards with less personnel.
- All university employees will be forced to take a salary reduction called a “furlough” resulting in a 2 or 5 percent reduction in pay for faculty and administrators, respectively. Teaching assistants are not affected by this action.
Despite this economic climate, described as “grim and worsening” by interim President Ikenberry, their union had the audacity to act on their threatened strike.
More frightening than the dire financial woes currently facing our institution is the attitude shown by the young people making up our teaching assistant population. More and more younger generations seem to feel a sense of entitlement, sometimes viewed by the older set as spoiled kids used to getting whatever they want. In the past, older generations could always fall back on the “wait until they get to the real world” philosophy, knowing that stomping your feet and holding your breath might work with parents but falls short in the professional world. No, the most unnerving thing happening here is that the University of Illinois teaching assistant union couldn’t see past the financial tumult of the times and shoulder their share of the fiscal responsibility. Rather, they threw the equivalent of a pubescent tantrum when they didn’t get what they wanted. In the “real world”. And it worked.
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