SSW-UAW VOTING CENTER
Our historic union election is this week. As Student Workers, we have the opportunity to vote to form our union in order to bargain collectively with the Mount Sinai administration over our pay, benefits, and working conditions. Below is the information you need in order to vote.
VOTING LOCATION
The Patricia and Robert Levinson Student Center on the first floor of Annenberg.
VOTING TIME
Thursday, September 26, 2024
10 am – 2 pm & 3 pm – 7 pm
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is eligible to vote?
All Ph.D. graduate students in the Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience programs who provide research or instructional services for the Employer; all Ph.D. graduate students in the Ph.D. portion of the MD/Ph.D. program who provide research or instructional services for the Employer; and all Ph.D. graduate students in the Clinical Research Ph.D. program who provide instructional services for the Employer, who were employed by the Employer during the payroll period ending September 7, 2024.
I was hired after September 7, 2024 - can I still vote?
If you were hired after September 7 you may not be on the voter list. You can still vote, but will be asked to vote subject to challenge. Your ballot will still be kept secret inside its envelope, but it will be placed in an outer envelope marked as challenged and counted only if the total number of challenged ballots would determine the outcome.
Should I still vote if I’m challenged?
Yes! We encourage everyone to vote. Challenged individuals can vote in the same way as non-challenged individuals, however challenged ballots will only be counted if they are determinative of the outcome (that is, if the number of challenged ballots cast is greater than the difference between non-challenged Yes and No votes).
Is the election decided by a simple majority of those voting?
Yes. This is how most elections work in the US. We encourage every eligible voter to make your voice heard. A strong “yes” vote in advance of bargaining creates more momentum and a mandate for negotiating a strong contract.
What is the question on the ballot?
The question on the ballot is “Do you wish to be represented for purposes of collective bargaining by Sinai Student Workers-UAW?” As student workers, we make up our union, SSW-UAW, and the more of us who vote yes, the more power we will have to negotiate a strong first contract with the Mount Sinai administration.
How do I get to the voting location?
The Patricia and Robert Levinson Student Center is located on the first floor of Annenberg, past the elevators near the Starbucks.
What is the process of voting?
When you enter the polling location, enter the student center or join the line if there is one while maintaining a safe social distance. You will be asked for your name to determine whether you are on the voter list. If not, you can still vote but will be asked to cast your ballot subject to challenge. Then you will be directed to cast your ballot, after which you will exit the voting location.
When will we know the results?
The ballot count is expected to take place directly after the polls close. We hope to be able to announce a result shortly after that.
What happens after the vote?
If we win our union election, Sinai will have a legal obligation to bargain with us over the terms and conditions of our work at the institute.
Where can I find more information?
We have compiled an extensive FAQ here. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please email us at info@sinaistudentworkers.org.
I live away from campus - do I have to vote in person?
- The decision issued by the NLRB means that the vote will be only in-person and each voter has to cast their own ballot.
- If the majority of grad students vote “yes”, we expect that there will be more ways to participate, both in person and remote, in order for us to bargain as strongly as possible for improvements.