PGRs as workers: are you a student who teachers? You are also a worker. TAs and Demonstrators are workers As PhD students, much of our life on campus is framed as student experience. But as teachers, we are employed by the University as workers. Teaching is valuable work, whether in-person or online, leading a class or sharing a classroom with other employees. As PhD students, we are experts in our subjects delivering a vital service that the University cannot function without. Collective power We have power as a collective facing similar conditions and issues. By talking to each other, we can make sure our working conditions are protected. Management has shown they will try to make changes to our working conditions without consulting us. They rely on departments not talking amongst themselves. trade union? ucu membership As the union for academic, research and teaching staff at QMUL, UCU is here to facilitate conversations, to talk to management on workers’ behalf and to fight to protect and improve our working rights. free membership: PhD students are entitled to free UCU membership. Simply select “Standard full membership”, select that you are an enrolled postgraduate student and apply for free membership. recent campaigns: UCU has campaigned for job security, paid training, improved pay rates, and career progression, including achieving permanency for TAs in some cases. UCU calculated missed holiday pay that all TAs and Demonstrators were owed, resulting in more pay for all PGR staff. We also work with other unions, including Unison, who represent many colleagues in professional services, security, cleaning, libraries, IT, and administration roles.