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.

HB553 would allow graduate assistants at UH to collectively bargain and form a labor union, but Governor Ige has informed the legislature of his intent to veto the bill.

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The company says the dispute is over an out-of-date handbook and “misunderstandings,” but workers say management retaliated with bullying and harassment after they sought union representation.