rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/letter-of-support?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-letter-of-support' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> CWA District 1 https://actionnetwork.org/groups/cwa-district-1 https://actionnetwork.org//images/generic_facebook.jpg Dear members of the NYS Legislature, As faculty, staff, undergraduate students and other members of the SUNY community, we are writing in strong support of ending mandatory fees for graduate student employees who serve as SUNY teaching, graduate and research assistants. These graduate student workers teach courses, grade exams and papers, mentor students and conduct cutting edge research. They are vital to the functioning of our university - and to the economic success of New York State. Yet, despite their key role in the education and the economy of New York state, they are forced to face dire financial challenges, having to surrender 10-20% of their annual income in fees back to their employer. This pay-to-work system must end. As the State has underfunded our public institutions for higher education, the SUNY system has relied on graduate students for their labor. Yet, the school nor the State has provided relief for the fees these workers must pay. A substantial portion of graduate student income that would normally go towards paying rent, buying groceries or making car payments, must be paid back to their employer in the form of fees. Moreover, these fees must be paid upfront unless you go on a payment plan. Yet payment plans to spread out fee payments come with additional fees. In other words, the SUNY system charges graduate student employees to work and then charges them interest if they can’t pay. Every year graduate employees take out loans, skip meals, and even sell blood plasma just to pay their fees. The state higher education institutions cannot close their funding gaps on the backs of graduate student workers, who already struggle to pay for basic needs. These are supposed to be the next generation of scientists, educators, and thinkers. They are supposed to use their knowledge and training to drive future growth, innovation, and civic well-being. Yet they cannot do that working in poverty. We must put an end to this practice immediately. We are asking the NYS Legislature to include language in the FY2021 budget that would waive these fees for graduate student workers serving a minimum of a half-time appointment. S.3916 filed by Chairwoman Stavisky and A.7241 filed by Assemblymember Pichardo would do just that. This bill would exempt all graduate students employed by state systems as Teaching Assistants, Graduate Assistants, and Research Assistants from paying fees. This bill passed the Senate last year and we are asking you to include this language included in the budget this year. Sincerely, https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/letter-of-support