Johns Hopkins graduate student union files unfair labor practice charge

The Johns Hopkins University graduate student union has filed an unfair labor practice lawsuit to investigate the private Baltimore university less than three months after reaching a contract agreement.

In a press release issued Thursday, Teachers and Researchers United, or TRU, said the university illegally established new work requirements for doctoral students in retaliation for their “historic” contract win in April. Union members include students who work or conduct research while earning their doctorates.

The unfair labor practice charge, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, seeks to investigate “increased workloads, rescinding of appointment offers and explicit statements by management accusing the union of these illegal changes,” the statement said.

In addition to this accusation, the union filed several interdepartmental grievances.

Hopkins and TRU did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

“University departments are implementing additional workload requirements not because they have to, but because they choose to,” Stacy Lu, the union’s interim steward, said in the communicated. “These changes are literally disrupting our livelihoods. »

Union members have been arguing with the university over implementing changes to the contract since it was ratified in April, according to the release. The union claims the university illegally threatened to withhold workers’ salaries and failed to implement contracting processes.

This story may be updated.