The Effects of Graduate-Student Unionization on Stipends

Abstract

Beginning in the 1970s, graduate assistants have organized labor unions. Presently, 38 universities have a graduate-student union. However, the effect graduate-student unions have on wages, wage variance, health benefits, and organizational structure is unknown. This study uses data from the Chronicle of Higher Education and government data to estimate the economic effects of unionization. By using a multilevel model is used to control for intra-university correlation of wages, this study concludes graduate unions are effective at raising stipends, but ineffective at lowering fees, providing health-care coverage, and lowering intra-university wage variance.

Keywords: graduate-student unions, multilevel model, wage variance, health care

JEL Classification: J51, I20