The union has worked with university administration on a new set of policies regarding employment-related matters since fall 2017. The policies, once planned to be finalized last July, are still in draft form, she said.

A university official said the policies are close to being finalized.

Trongone credited the university’s human resources department for trying to “champion” graduate workers’ rights, but said “It’s been months and months and we haven’t even been given a clear answer to what’s behind the delay.”

“There has been no deliberate delay,” university spokeswoman Meredith McGlone said. “We want to have clarity as well and are motivated to get this done; however, a collaborative approach takes time and we also want to get it right.”

Moonlighting discouraged

Graduate students who work at least 33% employment are paid a stipend as well given free tuition for their own studies.