Fighting for Democracy in the Workplace in 1970 and Now
In 1966, we formed the world’s first teaching assistant union. Since then, we have stood up for what’s best for all graduate assistants, winning tuition remission, health care and a cap on work hours for ourselves. Our union has set an example of progressive labor representation for universities across the country, helping UW-Madison recruit some of the nation’s top graduate students.
Here is a video about our union’s 1970 strike, produced by the Campus Voices project of the UW Archives and Record Management.
In February 2011, we led opposition to Governor Walker’s anti-democratic efforts to strip unions of our right to collectively bargain. Here is a video about the February 14th “I Heart UW: Walker Don’t Break My Heart” demonstration, produced by TAA members Shahin Izadi and Jason Nolan. We helped spark a movement!
The TAA remains a strong advocate for graduate assistants on campus. We continue to act collectively to ensure democracy in our workplace and throughout our state. Renew your membership today through our online membership form!