At New Mexico State University, where UE demanded recognition on behalf of approximately 900 graduate workers last spring, UE Local 1498 scored a big victory when they successfully shut down the university’s in-house “labor board” and succeeded in having their case transferred to the more objective state labor board. (Although they are being phased out, some New Mexico public employers retain the right to operate their own, self-appointed labor boards. Not surprisingly, the deck is stacked against workers seeking justice through these boards.)

While NMSU, which employs the same union-busting labor lawyer as UNM, has similarly attempted to create legal delays, the state labor board rejected the university’s motions and has announced it will soon count the union cards under the state’s card check law.