Stony Brook RA Union

On Sunday, February 21st 2010, representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union met with the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook located just south of campus on Nicolls Road.  The meeting offered our representatives an opportunity to explain the RAs’ role within the University community, and to bring forth some of the struggles we have encountered in negotiating our first contract.  The Committee has expressed enthusiasm about working with us in the future, and we promised to keep them informed on the status of the negotiations.  The meeting was one of many we are having with various groups in the surrounding community in order to build support for the RA Union.

Pictured: Research Assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department / member of the RA Bargaining Committee Kasia Sawicka, CWA 1104 Organizing Director Jim McAsey, and the Social Action Committee of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook.

On Thursday February 11th, 2010 representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union met NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli at his birthday celebration in New Hyde Park, LI.  The Comptroller has the authority to audit the Research Foundation of SUNY. Comptroller DiNapoli is also a good friend of CWA Local 1104 and was quick to mention that his father was a member of the Local.  We informed him of how the RF has been dragging its feet in settling a fair contract with us and explained how the Research Foundation’s only economic proposal is a $12,000 minimum salary - way below the cost of living.  We also provided him with this handbill.

A fair contract is a human right!

CWA, UUP, NYSUT, PEF and CSEA join cause

By Allison Roselle

November 30, 2009

Dozens of union workers and graduate students rallied on Nov. 20 at the entrance of the State University of New York Research Foundation demanding an initial, “fair” contract for graduate research assistant students.

The protestors carried signs with slogans that read “no contracts, no peace” and “support RA

Union,” while chanting, “Who are we? RA Union. What do we want? Contracts.”

A large, blow-up “corporate pig,” dressed in a top hat and bow tie with dollar signs in his eyes and a cigar in his mouth, stood in front of the Research Foundation doors as about three dozen protesters rallied on the sidewalk.

The RA Union, which includes about 740 SUNY Stony Brook student research assistants through the Communications Workers of America Local 1104, has been in the process of negotiating with the Research Foundation to secure a contract that provides fee waivers, job security and medical, dental and vision benefits since the union was formed in Dec. 2008.

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