Stony Brook RA Union

On Wednesday August 5th, 2009 representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union met with NY State Senator Kenneth LaValle of the first senate district in his home office.  The purpose of this meeting was to keep the Senator updated on the progress of our contract negotiations with the Research Foundation (RF).  We informed him of how the RF is being both dismissive and condescending during contract negotiations, which is a slap in the face to all RAs.  We also highlighted how the RF has denied providing raises to RAs who would normally be receiving them and then blamed the union for these denials.  We plan on keeping  Senator Lavalle informed of the status of the union, and appreciate his continuing support for Research Assistants.  This was not the first meeting between representatives from the RA Union and Senator LaValle, and it won’t be the last.

Senator Kenneth LaValle represents the Stony Brook area (the Stony Brook University stadium bears his name) and he is a member of the Higher Education Committee in the NY State Senate.

Pictured:  CWA 1104 Organizing Director Jim McAsey, Senator Kenneth LaValle, Research Assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department / member of the RA Bargaining Committee Katarzyna Sawicka, Research Assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department / member of the RA Bargaining Committee Matthew Engel.