For graduate workers in Masters programs, getting a job on campus can often be a ‘who-you-know’ game. Research shows that not only is social capital pervasive in higher education, but that it also perpetuates social inequalities and restricts the market of high-skilled workers who may not have the connections to search, find, and apply for the job.

Currently, students must traverse the Student Employment Office website, which is filled with undergraduate jobs, asking for work below our expert skill set, and frequently fails to show more relevant postings of research assistantships and teaching assistantships that grads are seeking to find.  

With GAGE, we can work to change that. Job postings should be public—accessible for everyone—and the process of getting a job on campus should be transparent to all grad workers.

How have other grad unions increased transparency in hiring?

• The University of California bargaining contract stipulates jobs need to be posted on departmental websites 60 days prior to the start of the academic term. (Article 24.E.1).

• The University of Michigan contract includes provisions of notifying applicants in a timely manner, with 21 days from employment start date, and notification of those who didn’t get the job that they would be kept under consideration if the first appointment falls through (Article IX-D; Article IX-G).

• New York University requires the University to ensure all postings are made available on a University-wide basis (Article XVI-B).