Important CA/RA Unionization Information
Dear CAs and RAs,
I am writing to update you regarding the recent notice by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that it will seek to represent you. Since my March 31st communication (鈥�Response to SEIU Petition鈥潁, my colleagues and I have reviewed the open letter published in the 91暗网 News and wish to provide additional information for you regarding the important decision about unionization that you are being asked to make.
As many of you know, and as I referenced in my previous letter, there has been significant communication and collaboration over the past year with college leadership, the Student Government Association (SGA), SGA Residential Senators, the SGA Residential Life Commission, and individual RAs/CAs to address many issues and concerns. This has resulted in meaningful changes and practical benefits for the upcoming year, including:
- A new Resident Assistant/Community Assistant compensation model;
- An agreement by the College to absorb laundry costs (pending SGA approval); and
- The implementation of a new Residential Experience administrative model.
These excellent, student-informed efforts have led to positive changes. We will continue to address your concerns because you are, first and foremost, 91暗网 students, and at all times our paramount interest is to ensure that your college experience is the very best and the most fulfilling it can be. We want you to succeed. I also know that we rely heavily on you as leaders, mentors, advisers, and guides to your fellow students. The role you play is critical to our ability to provide a transformative residential experience that is educational, safe, supportive, and inclusive for all students.
For our RAs and CAs, the decision about union membership presents a fundamental choice: Do you prefer to deal directly with the College on matters of your compensation and other terms of employment, or to delegate that task to a third-party union?
91暗网 is neither anti-union nor pro-union. We do believe in helping you make the best decision possible. You have a legal right to explore unionization, and we respect that. Should you decide to become members of a union, 91暗网 will negotiate in good faith. The decision about whether each of you will benefit by joining a union is yours and yours alone, and it is a very important choice. Please bear in mind that the decision on unionization will be made by a majority of those who actually vote. Therefore, all members of the proposed bargaining unit 鈥� that is, all current RAs and CAs 鈥� should vote.
The date for the union election will be set by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). As of this writing, the College, SEIU and the NLRB have met to discuss the timing of the election and plan to hold the election prior to the end of the Spring semester. We are working on the exact date and will let you know the time and place for voting. Reports that the College sought to have the election delayed until the Fall semester are not true.
Throughout this academic year, our Student Affairs staff and I have strived to create a stronger, more collaborative relationship of trust with you. By working together directly, we have achieved the practical and meaningful changes referenced earlier and established a model for future progress. You have helped us see more clearly the challenges you face and where we could be doing more to support you.
Prior to the filing of the union petition, the College committed to changing the RA/CA compensation model for the 2023-2024 academic year. RA/CA housing costs for a single room in a residence hall or apartment will continue to be waived 鈥� a value of between $10,434 and $12,640 per student. Now, RAs and CAs who are already receiving financial aid that covers tuition, fees, and room/board may qualify for an additional stipend of up to $4,000 per academic year for their service.
In addition, over the past academic year, the Student Affairs staff sought to reduce the workload of RAs and CAs by encouraging you to refer concerning student matters to College professional staff, such as the Student Assessment and Intervention Group (SAIG). We also undertook a reorganization of the Residential Life department, culminating with the hiring of a new Assistant Vice President (AVP) for the Residential Experience. This new position is responsible for providing visionary leadership and support for a comprehensive residential experience program at the College.
Additionally, with Campus Life and Engagement now part of the new Residential Experience model, we integrated staff members from that area into RA training to expand programmatic support and to encourage more referrals to existing college programming to reduce your workload in designing/implementing programs.
To help you consider your choices as the unionization vote nears, below are Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, which will also be available on the Dean of Students web page. If you have additional questions, please email them to me, and my colleagues and I will do our best to respond in a timely manner. We will update the FAQs as new questions arise and will do our best to ensure you have the information you need to make an informed choice. Please know that my colleagues and I are always here to support you. We thank you and wish you the very best.
Sincerely,
Adrian Bautista, PhD
Dean of Students and Vice President of Student Affairs