The Boston University ResLife Union unanimously voted to ratify its first contract with the University on Friday, Sept. 27.
The ratification signifies that the union is “satisfied with where we are in bargaining” with the University, said Liv Tambascio, a graduate resident assistant living in South Campus.
The University and the union reached a tentative agreement on a contract at its last bargaining session on Sept. 17. The ResLife membership then held an in-person vote to determine if members were satisfied with the contract, and Tambascio said they received an “overwhelming outpour of votes.”
“Now that [the contract] is ratified, we are working with BU [and] BU is now working to put that into action,” she said.
According to Dean of Students Jason Campbell-Foster, the agreement symbolizes a commitment from both the University and the union to support resident assistants.
“These students are essential to our operation,” Campbell-Foster wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press. “I am pleased with the final agreement and look forward to the good work that lies ahead.”
The new contract includes articles about anti-discrimination language protections, academic grace periods, meal plans and an increased weekly stipend for all RAs, according to Tambascio.
Previously, the union wasn’t satisfied with the University “dragging its feet” on articles related to RAs who may have different preferred names, such as transgender or international students. This includes “deadnaming,” which is when a person is called by a name they no longer use.
RAs also faced housing insecurities due to a previous GPA policy. RAs who lived in apartments received around $15 per week for food and were not given meal plans.
“I’m incredibly excited about the prospects this new ratified contract gives myself and other RAs,” Bridgette Bennis, an RA in Warren Towers, wrote in an email to The Daily Free Press. “For myself and many of my coworkers, this food security and stipend is life-changing.”
The contract also provides greater protections for everyone working in ResLife, Tambascio said.
“There’s a better documentation system and grievance system, so that if an RA has issues with something that’s going on they can document [it] more easily,” she said.
Dining plans for all RAs began at noon on Sept. 30, according to an email RAs received from the Office of Residence Life. The office is also currently working with BU Student Employment Offices to start paying RAs their stipends quickly.
Tambascio said the BU ResLife Union is “setting a precedent” for RA unions across the country.
“We are excited to continue to move forward and continue to work with BU every few years to make sure that we’re on the same page,” Tambascio said. “While our work right now is done because we’re so strong as a union, we’re excited and ready to continue to support and protect each other.”
