In May, 292 Research Assistants employed at the State University of New York (SUNY)-Binghamton’s Research Foundation won their Union Election by a landslide and are joining Communications Workers of America (CWA) Local 1104 - which represents 4,700 Graduate Student Workers and 1,062 Research Assistants at SUNY campuses. The majority of these Workers are international students conducting scientific research, prime targets for President Donald Trump’s mass deportation and research defunding schemes. Despite the inherent danger of organizing and the added danger of incarceration or deportation, these brave Workers courageously accepted those risks to help protect one another, the CWA said. “I’m Pro-Union because international students are more vulnerable, particularly today,” said Turan, a Binghamton History Department Research Assistant. “Building the Union is about securing protections for International Workers, as well as ensuring that all Resident Assistants have the pay and benefits we need. We can get that through a Union contract.” CWA Local 1104 President Mike Ippoliti played a key role in supporting these workers, as did organizers from CWA Locals 1104,1123 and 1180. “We’re happy to welcome these Workers into the CWA family,” Ippoliti said. “Despite considerable time constraints, we pulled together in an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ effort over the last few months. This win would not have been possible without everyone involved. We are looking forward to bargaining a first contract in the coming months.”

Photo Courtesy Of The CWA.