NEW YORK (AP) -- The union representing New York University graduate teaching assistants said Monday it has authorized a strike for November 9 over the university's refusal to negotiate a second contract.The university does not have to negotiate with Local 2110 of the United Auto Workers because the National Labor Relations Board ruled last year that graduate students at private universities are not workers and cannot form unions."NYU could settle this any time by agreeing to bargain in good faith," said Maida Rosenstein, president of the union, which represents about 1,000 teaching and research assistants at the university.NYU spokesman John Beckman said the school, which was the only private university in the country to recognize a union of graduate students, has been engaged in "appropriate planning" for a possible strike."In spite of the fact that we had no legal obligation, we engaged in conversations with them over the summer and made them an offer of a second contract, which they rejected unequivocally," Beckman said.Rosenstein called the university's response "a take-it-or-leave-it offer."She said the school wanted a seven-year period to unilaterally determine all terms of the agreement, including the right to cut health benefits anytime.The union's first contract with NYU expired August 31.Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.