In March 2002 we received confirmation from UI Human Resources that M.A. students are exempt from the collective bargaining agreement between The Board of Regents, State of Iowa, and the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America, Local 896 (COGS). Article I, Section 2, of the Agreement between COGS and the Board of Regents excludes from the COGS bargaining unit "Research Assistants (FR19 or FL19) whose appointments are ... (b) primarily intended as learning experiences which contribute to the students' progress toward their graduate or professional program of study." (p. 1). M.A. students are defined as Research Assistants whose assistantships are necessary for their professional development. What this means in practice is that as of the incoming class of Fall 2002, M.A. students do not come within the salary or benefits requirements of the COGS contract. Some UI assistantship sites have continued to treat our students as though they were part of the COGS agreement and some do not. In all cases, however, the faculty work with the sites to ensure our students are treated properly.
Detailed information on COGS |