SBU Researchers Protest Lack of Contract
By Lee Lutz
September 10, 2009 | 11:12 AM
Freshmen who arrived on the Stony Brook University campus only last week may wonder if boisterous rallies with dozens of sign-carrying protestors is the norm at their new home. On Tuesday the union representing research assistants at SBU held a loud noontime rally outside the Melville Library, then marched en masse to the offices of Vice President for Research Gail Habicht, on the library’s fourth floor. It was there the group delivered a letter protesting the slow pace of negotiations between Local 1104 of the Communications Workers of America, which represents the RA’s, and the Research Foundation of SUNY in Albany, representing the interests of the state university system.
The RA’s had lots of support from fellow union members, including the United University Professions, which represent SBU faculty, Long Island laborers and machinists locals and the Long Island Federation of Labor. Also speaking in support of the graduate students was Leg. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley), “a proud union member,” who told the crowd of about 75 attending the rally, “Anything you need, I’m here for you.”
