Currently, graduate students at UH are the only state-employed workers that are not permitted to unionize or collectively bargain with their employer.

Thirteen unfair labor practice charges have been filed against Aqua-Aston since February.

But there are two conflicting accounts of what happened and why.

The company says the dispute is over an out-of-date handbook and “misunderstandings,” but workers say management retaliated with bullying and harassment after they sought union representation.