We’ve had a major breakthrough in the negotiations with the Research Foundation. The RF has agreed to drastically improve our dental and vision coverage. We applaud the RF for agreeing to do this. On each of these PDFs, there is a comparison of the old plans with the new plans: Dental, Vision.
These plans went into effect on August 15th, 2010.
On Wedensday July 14th, five members of the United States Congress sent a letter to the Research Foundation “regarding the fair settlement of a contract with the Stony Brook University Research Assistants.” Four of the Congresspeople sit on the powerful Appropriations Committee that allocates tax dollars to funding agencies like the Department of Health and Human Services, the National Institute of Health, and the National Science Foundation. The fifth signature is from Tim Bishop, who sits on the Education & Labor Committee, and represents the Stony Brook area.
On April 29th, 2010, the Workers’ Rights Board, an organization comprised of community leaders who provide a community based forum where workplace grievances can be heard, convened a hearing at Stony Brook University. The purpose of the hearing was to investigate the negotiation strategies of the Research Foundation. Below is their official report, including their recommendations.
On Monday April 26th, 2010 representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union spoke with New York State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo at his fundraiser in Lloyd Harbor, LI. We informed the powerful elected official of how the RF has been dragging its feet in settling a fair contract with us while wasting hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars in various ways. It is anticipated that Cuomo will soon announce his candidacy for Governor, and that he will win by a landslide.
Pictured: Matthew Engel, Research Assistant in Biomedical Engineering and NYS Attorney General Andrew Cuomo.
On Thursday March 4th, 2010 representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union spoke with U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer and Congressman Tim Bishop at the Long Island Federation of Labor annual dinner in Woodbury, LI. We informed the powerful elected officials of how the RF has been dragging its feet in settling a fair contract with us while wasting hundreds of thousands of tax payer dollars in various ways. We provided them with this handbill.
Pictured: U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer, Congressman Tim Bishop, leaders from CWA 1104, and graduate students from Stony Brook University.
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.
Comptroller Tom DiNapoli is the chief fiscal officer for New York State.
Pictured: Research Assistant in the Psychology Department / RA Union Division Coordinator Westri Stalder, Comptroller Tom DiNapoli, Research Assistant in the Biomedical Engineering Department / member of the RA Union Bargaining Committee Matthew Engel.
A fair contract is a human right!
On Wednesday, September 17th, 2009, representatives of the Stony Brook RA Union met with Rev. Robert Smith of the St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket. The purpose of this meeting was to build support for the RA Union in the surrounding community. We provided Rev. Smith with background information by giving him printouts of several news stories about our campaign (including “Research Assistants’ Union Rally Gets Tangled in Red Tape“, “Research Foundation Under Scrutiny” , “Feds investigate foundation at SUNY“, and “SBU Researchers Protest Lack of Contract“). Rev. Smith was very enthusiastic about working with us and we plan on keeping him informed of the status of the negotiations. We will continue to build our relationships with clergy and other community leaders.
Rev. Smith is also the Chair of the Three Village Interfaith Clergy Association.
Pictured: Research Assistant in the Physics Department / member of the RA Bargaining Committee Clint Young, Rev. Robert Smith.
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.
