Harvard strips 900 graduate students from union coverage: Why the university says research isn’t considered work

Harvard University has removed over 900 graduate students on research stipends from union coverage, sparking disputes over whether research counts as employment. Students now lose pay protections, benefits, and union representation under HGSU-UAW. The union has filed grievances, calling Harvard’s move arbitrary and harmful. The conflict highlights broader debates over graduate student labor rights and academic work classifications.

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