11/30/09 SUNY Stony Brook research assistants seeking contract
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.
