from OP: > we had good health insurance, we had a guaranteed minimum stipend, we had the right to actually take vacation during university vacations, and a cer

from OP: > we had good health insurance, we had a guaranteed minimum stipend, we had the right to actually take vacation during university vacations, and a certain number of sick days. I knew from talking to oother students, that before the union contract, grad students with assistantships didn't necessarily have these things (it depended on department), and sometimes literally got no vacation or allowed sick leave at all.