RA Negotiations

An Update on Union Negotiations with the Resident Assistants

We share the goal of wanting to continuously improve Fordham's resident assistant experience and are working hard to reach an agreement on specific contract proposals. Fordham prefers to keep negotiations at the bargaining table; however, the University offers the following information so that the Fordham community may be informed of University operations.

Questions? Contact us: [email protected] 

Latest Bargaining Session Summary

February 26 and 28, 2024: RA Union Update

The union began the 2/26/24 session by presenting their counter proposals on Placements and Management Rights. The university asked clarifying questions and then both sides took a caucus. Following the caucus, the university provided its own Placements and Management Rights counter proposals. After the sides discussed the changes in each proposal, the university provided a Compensation counter proposal. The parties discussed the provisions of the Compensation article and agreed to continue that conversation in the 2/28/24 session.

The 2/28/24 session was devoted entirely to discussions about compensation. After a caucus, both sides presented counter proposals on Compensation.

The next session was tentatively scheduled for 3/4/24. The union later informed the university that the date no longer worked. The university is waiting for the union to provide additional dates for the next session.

Summaries Archive

FAQs

Summary

Fordham has been negotiating with Local 153 of the Office and Professional International Union who represent the Resident Assistants at the Rose Hill Campus for nearly six months. These negotiations began when the Union filed a petition for an election.

Currently, the Fordham team and the RA Union representatives meet every two to three weeks to discuss proposals so that we can get close to an agreement.

The FAQ below serves to provide additional information on these negotiations.

 

  • This negotiation is between Fordham University and Local 153 of the Office and Professional International Union who represent the Resident Assistants at the Rose Hill Campus.

  • Currently, Fordham and the RA Union are working through non-economic proposals such as union security, terms of appointment, hiring procedures, grievance procedures, etc.

    Fordham is waiting to receive the union’s economic proposal.

  • Fordham is working with Local 153 of the Office and Professional International Union representing the Resident Assistants at the Rose Hill Campus to reach an agreement. We are empathetic to the RA’s experiences and look forward to working together to develop a shared standard for the working environment.

  • The University and the union are committed to negotiating in good faith to improve the working conditions for Resident Assistants in the bargaining unit. These workers are an important resource to the Fordham community, and their work provides a valuable aspect of their professional development.

  • Collective bargaining is inherently a time-consuming process. According to Bloomberg Law, 409 days is the average length of negotiations until new union locals and their employer sign an initial collective bargaining agreement — and talks in the education sector take even longer, on average. In our case, bargaining commenced in May 2023 and the parties have held a total of 4 bargaining sessions thus far.

  • The Resident Assistant position at Fordham University at Rose Hill is an integral part of the operation of 15 on- and off-campus residential facilities and the Office of Residential Life at Rose Hill. The Resident Assistant role during the academic year is an 8-month position, beginning in August and ending in May, with an additional number of Summer Resident Assistants hired for the summer months and based on summer occupancy. The specific dates are based on the academic calendar.

  • The union represents approximately 100 Resident Assistants. This encompasses 100% of the residence halls at the Rose Hill Campus.

  • Fordham provides Rose Hill RAs who work during the academic year with room, board, and a $1,050 annual tuition stipend. On average, the package amounts to $25,000.

  • The free room costs Fordham approximately $1,947,760 in lost revenue. Adding other RA compensation, Fordham’s total annual operating cost to pay the RAs at the Rose Hill Campus is $2,390,845.

  • Currently, there is no impact on undergraduate students living in the residence halls while negotiations are underway.

  • Resident Assistants are directly supervised by full-time Resident Directors who are employees of the University, not undergraduate students.

  • This process can best be summarized as collective bargaining. This involves an exchange of ideas through written proposals with the intention of reaching an agreement that is referred to as a collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The CBA will govern the relationship during the term of the agreement.

  • Most RAs at Fordham University are in the junior or senior year of their undergraduate education, with some RAs serving in their sophomore year.

  • 124 students applied for the Resident Assistant position for the 2023-2024 academic year and 43 of the 124 were hired. 54 RAs returned to the position from the previous year.

Additional Information