Merced

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher in Quantitative and Systems Biology at UC-Merced studying immune responses during Valley Fever infection. I believe in unionization because through their union my Teaching Assistant colleagues have won salary increases, health insurance benefits, childcare reimbursement, and numerous other legally-binding, enforceable rights in a union contract. We may be individual voices but together as a majority of Student Researchers we can push for fair representation and make our concerns heard!” – Anh Diep

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher in the Environmental Systems Graduate Group at UC-Merced studying mercury cycling and remediation in California reservoirs. Student Researchers need a union to ensure that student workers are kept safe from accidents, abuse, and economic burden.” – Mark Seelos

“I am a Student Researcher in Environmental Systems at UC Merced. I research how shark teeth can be used to interpret modern and ancient marine environments. As a Graduate Student Researcher and non-California native, I’ve faced several issues at UC. International students and out-of-state students are left in a vulnerable position due to the high cost of Non-Residential Supplemental Tuition. Forming a union would enable Student Researchers to negotiate guaranteed remission of tuition and fees that UC currently imposes on many of us. Graduate Students Researchers shouldn’t be left without funding and shouldn’t have to pay tuition and fees as a condition of employment.” – Rachel Chan

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher and international student in Mechanical Engineering at UC-Merced studying nano-tribology of exhotic 2D material. Forming a union will enable Student Researchers to negotiate greater security and protections at UC. UAW also has a long history of representing international scholars and has opposed visa restrictions on Chinese international students and advocated for OPT STEM extensions. We can achieve the changes we want if we become united and voice our concerns through our union.” – Mohammad Jaman

“I am a graduate student in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology Department, and have been a Graduate Student Researcher as well as a Teaching Assistant at UC Merced. The advantages that the union provides Teaching Assistants extend well beyond monetary benefits, including organizational support in matters of conflict and other services mandated by the union-negotiated contract that helps the members do their jobs well. I believe Student Researchers deserve the same.” – Karnamohit Ranka

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher in BioEngineering at UCM. An SR union allows student researchers a safe space to discuss issues we face daily and collectively agree on solutions we believe should be structurally provided to protect us from harassment and unfair treatment. It means giving us researchers the power to negotiate for better working conditions so we, and those after us, will be able to work in a safe, comfortable, and welcoming environment.” – Gloria Denise Ligunas

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher in the Department of Physics at UC Merced. In the beginning of my graduate study I have served as a TA twice and I have seen how the TA union helped grad workers in several ways. I always feel that it’s better to be a part of the union to raise our voice, in a stronger way, to fight against injustice.” – Kuntal Talit

“I am a Graduate Student Researcher in the Chemistry and Chemical Biology department at UC Merced. As a Graduate Student Researcher, a union would be the best way to have a say in making decisions and policies as well as having protection against all forms of harassment.” – Ali Abou Taka