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Union Hails SUNY Grad Student Pact
The Graduate Students Employees Union, representing 4,500 teaching and graduate assistants at 21 campuses of the State University of New York, has reached a tentative contract with base salary increases and a signing bonus.
The SUNY employees, members of CWA Local 1104, have been working without a contract since July 1, 2003. They will vote on the new agreement, which runs through June 2007, in March.
Key elements of the pact include an immediate payment of $500 after ratification, base salary increases of 2.5 percent, 2.75 percent and 3 percent and a lump sum of another $500.
Other enhancements include a $2.4 million fund to support recruitment and retention of doctoral students, a $700,000 fund to support the same at four-year colleges, more than $2 million to mitigate the cost of fees charged to graduate students, $550,000 for cost-of-living aid in eight downstate counties, and a professional development fund of $600,000 to support excellence in teaching and research.
"It is a great day for our union," said Union Chief Negotiator and Executive Vice President Kathleen Sims. "We are very proud. Our union members have taken our contract to new levels on compensation and operational issues. Our contract mobilization has helped to prioritize educational excellence for all New Yorkers."
CWA Local 1104 President Bob Lilja said the pact "has been a long time in coming. We must give thanks to all members of Local 1104 who have supported our Educational Division and helped them get a good contact."
The SUNY employees, members of CWA Local 1104, have been working without a contract since July 1, 2003. They will vote on the new agreement, which runs through June 2007, in March.
Key elements of the pact include an immediate payment of $500 after ratification, base salary increases of 2.5 percent, 2.75 percent and 3 percent and a lump sum of another $500.
Other enhancements include a $2.4 million fund to support recruitment and retention of doctoral students, a $700,000 fund to support the same at four-year colleges, more than $2 million to mitigate the cost of fees charged to graduate students, $550,000 for cost-of-living aid in eight downstate counties, and a professional development fund of $600,000 to support excellence in teaching and research.
"It is a great day for our union," said Union Chief Negotiator and Executive Vice President Kathleen Sims. "We are very proud. Our union members have taken our contract to new levels on compensation and operational issues. Our contract mobilization has helped to prioritize educational excellence for all New Yorkers."
CWA Local 1104 President Bob Lilja said the pact "has been a long time in coming. We must give thanks to all members of Local 1104 who have supported our Educational Division and helped them get a good contact."