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What NLRB Decision Allowing Grad Students To Unionize Means For Mass. Universities

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Local colleges and universities are coming to grips with a major decision by the National Labor Relations Board saying graduate student researchers and teaching assistants can unionize.

The decision from the NLRB means graduate students — and even undergraduates who work as research assistants — are considered to be employees of the school, not just students.

To look at what the decision means, Boston employment attorney Ellen Messing joined WBUR's All Things Considered. We asked her about arguments from universities, including Harvard and MIT, which say unionization by students will disrupt academic mentoring and research.

This segment aired on August 24, 2016.

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