I’m a graduate student researcher at UC Berkeley, and in May 2017, I was burned in a chemical spill in my thesis lab. I received minimal support from UC Berkeley while seeking treatment for and recovering from my injuries, and in the aftermath of the accident, I was shocked to learn that UC Berkeley would not cover my medical expenses under workers’ compensation because it did not consider me an employee. In the eyes of the UC system, I had none of the rights from which its other workers benefit. Now, I’m changing that for myself and for future generations of student researchers by organizing to form a union with Student Researchers United/UAW.
Student researchers need a union to win workplace safety
