Agreed. I'm pretty cynical about academia but I don't see graduate student unions fixing the problems. I voted against a graduate student union at my instituti

Agreed. I'm pretty cynical about academia but I don't see graduate student unions fixing the problems. I voted against a graduate student union at my institution ca. 7 years ago after a couple very frustrating conversations with organizers (both students and professionals from the SEIU) where they were doing the equivalent of promising everyone a free pony (scholarships for international students, lower tuition, etc.--things that aren't included in the mandatory bargaining subjects for a union). It was deeply manipulative and dishonest.