Research Assistants Launch Campaign to Join CWA

Graduate student Research Assistants of the State University of New York (SUNY) College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) announced on March 30th that they’re organizing to join CWA! That same day, they delivered a letter to University President Joanie Mahoney’s office demanding voluntary recognition after a majority of them signed cards indicating their desire to form a union with CWA. 

The university relies on the Research Assistants to conduct crucial research, run labs, teach and assist students, and more. Despite the essential role they play, these workers have been saddled with severe economic hardships resulting from low pay and burdensome student fees, as well as poor working conditions, including lack of affordable and adequate healthcare coverage, workplace harassment, and being overworked without additional compensation. One of the primary challenges the Research Assistants face are the fees they need to pay in order to perform their duties, like operating the software system. In addition to eliminating this work-to-pay culture, the workers, who currently make less than the living and minimum wage, are demanding fair compensation that reflects the value they bring to the university. 

The SUNY ESF workers would join over 5,000 other graduate workers in the SUNY system who are members of the Graduate Student Employees Union-CWA Local 1104.

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