A House bill making its way through the state Senate would give graduate and research assistants the same labor rights as other educational employees.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Laura Fine (D-Glenview), would give graduate and research assistants the rights to bargain collectively for “better working conditions and fairer pay,” as well as guaranteeing the same rights to assistants as other educational employee in the state, according to a Wednesday news release.

“Having a say over one’s own labor is a right that should be guaranteed to everyone,” Fine said in the release. “I’m proud to be fighting to ensure graduate and research assistants can continue to do their important work with dignity.”

Currently, graduate and research assistants are classified as “students” under state law. Under House Bill 253, these assistants would be removed from this category, reclassifying them as employees.

In August 2016, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that student assistants at universities should be considered as employees. This spurred a push toward unionization from the Northwestern University Graduate Workers, to gain that recognition.

The University disagreed with the NLRB’s rulings, saying that recategorizing students as employees would “significantly change” their relationship between the students and their faculty mentors.

NUGW is currently seeking voluntary recognition from the Northwestern, instead of seeking recognition from the NLRB because they fear Trump appointees would overturn the 2016 ruling.

The House bill passed through the Senate’s Labor Committee and awaits consideration from the full state Senate. A similar bill was vetoed last year by former Gov. Bruce Rauner, a Republican.

“Graduate and research assistants are not considered employees despite performing a very important duty that benefits their university and society as a whole,” Fine said in the release. “Allowing graduate and research assistants to collectively bargain will afford them the same dignity and respect already secured by their colleagues.”

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