Fill the Gap: $22K for All & Fees for None!
Update: WE WON!!!
(but there's more work to do)
On Monday, December 5th, GSEU members attended a meeting of the UB Council. Business Agent Lawrence Mullen delivered a number of remarks, including our demand for $22,000 stipends for graduate workers. On Tuesday, UB announced that stipends will be raised to $23,000 for full time, fully funded PhD-track grad workers!
This is an absolute win!
BUT THERE'S MORE TO DO!
We were never asking for a one-time raise for some of us. This campaign is predicated on the idea that ALL grad workers deserve a stipend that remains a living wage for all of their years at UB.
While many College of Arts and Sciences graduate workers saw a stipend increase to $20,000 in 2019 and many graduate workers university-wide saw the abolition of their broad-based fees in 2021, there are still many graduate workers who are making less than $15,000 per year AND still paying fees: this is a yearly income of less than $12,000.
GSEU finds this to be utterly unacceptable. Intentionally leaving gaps for graduate workers to fall in to creates further levels of income inequality; it also speaks volumes to the fact that the University at Buffalo simply does not value the work that our MFA and non-academic unit colleagues do.
GSEU finds this to be utterly unacceptable. Intentionally leaving gaps for graduate workers to fall in to creates further levels of income inequality; it also speaks volumes to the fact that the University at Buffalo simply does not value the work that our MFA and non-academic unit colleagues do.
-> Sign our petition now! <-
Get Involved!
On October 26, 2021, GSEU representatives and members from across New York state spoke at the SUNY Board of Trustees Meeting to elaborate on the working conditions and poverty wages that graduate workers endure. You can read the testimony given by GSEU at Buffalo's President, and further testimonies on SUNY's Meeting Notice website.
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On November 2, 2021, GSEU began collecting signatures on a petition asking that President Tripathi ensure $22K stipends for all and fees for none!
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On December 2, 2021, GSEU delivered this petition to President Satish Tripathi's Office on the fifth floor of Capen Hall. Unfortunately, President Tripathi couldn't break away from a very important meeting to greet us, but Dean of Student Life Barbara Rice listened intently and promised to relay our petition to the President.
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On December 15, 2021, members of GSEU returned to President Tripathi's Office as part of a "grade-in," peacefully demonstrating what the fundamental work of the university looks like in the hands of hard working TAs. Prior to December 17, 2021, University representatives stated to GSEU leadership that they are unwilling to meet, and equally unwilling to consider our asks. But that doesn't stop us! |
we're waiting...
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