tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855199626103323785.post187707527498155553..comments2023-07-07T03:56:01.092-07:00Comments on The Barefoot Doctoral: What have you done, MassachussettsBarefoot Doctoralhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03116876526923906034noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1855199626103323785.post-35203561488719277512011-05-06T12:55:11.794-07:002011-05-06T12:55:11.794-07:00My graduate University also had a grad student uni...My graduate University also had a grad student union. We got really great health benefits (all covered after my 2nd year, in the 1st year we had to pay for the summer months). I don't know much about the parental leave though. <br /><br />To be frank, I actually am not always the biggest fan of unions. I have certainly benefited from their existence both in grad school and here in the UK, but I get wary when they start to wield too much power. I certainly believe they have an important place to ensure workers are treated fairly, but they can also be a considerable impediment to progress (see public employee pensions backed by taxpayers...this should have all been switched to 403(b) plans awhile back like what private companies have done with 401(k)'s...progress on this front is way too slow).Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com