I started a PhD at NYU just as the graduate student unionization happened. IIRC, at NYU only graduate students who were actively teaching in a given semester or had a specific type of research grant were considered members of the union. First year PhDs at NYU were generally not covered, because in that case your salary was simply the generic PhD fellowship and you didn't count as a worker.
The union essentially negotiated on behalf of all students, and for example won an increase in the PhD stipend that applied to everyone. But there were some benefits (family cash assistance perhaps?) that you could only get if you were in the worker category.
I started a PhD at NYU just as the graduate student unionization happened. IIRC, at NYU only graduate students who were actively teaching in a given semester or had a specific type of research grant were considered members of the union. First year PhDs at NYU were generally not covered, because in that case your salary was simply the generic PhD fellowship and you didn't count as a worker.
The union essentially negotiated on behalf of all students, and for example won an increase in the PhD stipend that applied to everyone. But there were some benefits (family cash assistance perhaps?) that you could only get if you were in the worker category.