"Teaching, Graduate Assistants Protest Proposed Contract"

Over 40 Graduate Assistants and Teaching Assistants protested for a better contract offer from the state outside the Student Union Monday afternoon.

Chants of "We'll teach for food" and "SUNY works because we do" could be heard loud and clear throughout the rally, as the frustrated group of GAs and TAs tried to gain public support for their cause by getting their message out to the public.

Many of the protestors carried signs with slogans and informative posters about the Graduate Student Employees Union and the reasons for their frustrations with the proposed contract.

There are about 1,200 TAs and GAs at UB. Union leaders said their battle is one being fought across the nation in all areas of employment.

"We're not particularly unique," said Scott Oldenburg, a TA in the English department and business. "It's all part of a pattern of reducing pay and increasing workloads seen all over the country."

At the center of the protests were demands by TAs and GAs that certain benefits should be included in the state's proposed contract.

The state's proposed contract has higher co-pays for medications and doctor visits, said Oldenburg, which the union believes is unfair.

In addition, GSEU has serious concerns over the stringent maternity leave policy included in the proposed contract, which according to Oldenburg, does not allow TAs and GAs adequate time off after giving birth.

Oldenburg recalled a female TA who was pregnant and was fired for taking more than five sick days off.

The idea that TAs and GAs aren't allowed maternity leave for expectant mothers hit a chord with undergrads watching the protest.

"I would want to have the security of knowing that my job is safe if I were to be pregnant. Women deserve at least that much," said Melissa Nguyen, a sophomore biology major.

Another issue the rallying union members brought up was the fear of unprovoked layoffs.

"We can get fired with no warning or reason, but when they violate the contract nothing happens," Oldenburg said.

To fix this problem, the protesters proposed a "just cause" provision in the contract between themselves and their employee.

Oldenburg said he hopes such a clause would help curb any unwarranted firings.

Andrew Walsh, a second-year graduate student and a TA for the Music Department, said his biggest concern is the compulsory fees given to him and his colleagues at the beginning of each semester.

TAs and GAs, unlike all other employee unions on campus, are required to pay technology fees each semester of about $800.

"I think it adds insult to injury," Walsh said. "The fact that we have to pay for things we need to do our jobs with is ridiculous."

Oldenburg said the union is not particularly concerned with the salary proposed under the state's proposed contract.

"(Our salary) doesn't even keep up with inflation, but we are going into this understanding the state is broke," said Oldenburg.

The average TA salary at UB is currently $10,000 a year, $3,000 over the SUNY minimum. Last year, the union received a 3.5 percent salary increase.

Under the proposed contract, the union would receive a 2.5 percent increase the first year of the contract, 2.75 percent the second year and 3 percent after the third.

While the union is not opposing the proposed salary, some TAs said they felt it was too low.

Rachel Greenberg, a TA in the English Department, complained about the financial damage currently being a TA could do to a college student.

"I'm taking out loans to compensate for my low salary," Greenberg said.

English Department TA's are paid more than other of major's subdivisions, where the average salary for a TA there is $9,300.

"The base stipend has been the same for about a decade," Greenberg said.

According to Oldenburg, the salary for UB TAs and GAs is on par with the rest of SUNY.

"We're all for a living wage. We need to live decently so we can work better," said Greenberg.

Oldenburg said while some of the demands of the union might not be seen as major, he said they are important because of the tough financial conditions faced by TAs and GAs.

"GSEU is exceedingly poor, so the issues are a little more pronounced," said Oldenburg.