BARGAINING COMMITTEE
Anupriya Ramamoorthy
The student workers at Sinai work hard every day to support ourselves, and for some of us, our families too. We deserve to have a safe, fair and equitable workplace. As an international student of colour, I’ve faced my fair share of difficulties during the time I’ve been here. I’ve also watched as my peers have faced their own unique challenges, which may be different from mine but are just as significant. The formation of a union has opened the door for all of us to have a strong, collective voice and to speak up for our basic rights. As a member of the Bargaining Committee, I will work towards securing fair and livable wages, better working conditions, and robust immigration and visa support for international student-workers. I am dedicated to ensuring transparency, clear communication, and a strong commitment to listening to all members. By advocating for addressing our individual struggles, I hope that we will be able to strengthen our union and improve our work and lives, collectively. I look forward to working with and for every student worker at Sinai to elevate our voices and bring forth lasting improvements. Thank you for this privilege.
Justice Simonetti
For many of us, Mount Sinai is our landlord, our employer, and our healthcare provider – an enormous amount of power for one institution to have in our lives. In light of this and an increasingly tenuous academic job market, it is as important as ever that we fight, in solidarity as student workers, for economic and workplace protections. As a member of the bargaining committee, I would use my experience on the organizing committee to fight for higher wages that keep pace with cost of living and inflation, as well as for open and democratized workplaces – where bullying, harassment, undue censorship, favoritism, discrimination, and other abuses of power can truly be held to account. Unionization efforts across academic institutions nationwide-including those of our own postdocs-have shown that these victories are more than possible, should we fight for them collectively. I hope to see you in the bargaining room!
Sanutha Shetty
I am writing to confirm my nomination to the SSW Bargaining Committee and express my strong commitment to supporting our unit’s interests. With experience in organizing with SSW for the past year, I am dedicated to advancing our union’s goals and ensuring fair treatment and opportunities for all members. I am particularly focused on improving working conditions, addressing wage disparities, enhancing benefits. By prioritizing open dialogue and transparency, I aim to represent our units voices effectively and build a foundation for long-term improvements. Thank you for this opportunity. I look forward to contributing to the committee and to advocating for a fair and equitable workplace for all.
Qixiu Fu
I am a fourth-year Ph.D. candidate in the neuroscience program, and I am joining the bargaining committee because I want to continue to advocate for better working and living conditions of graduate workers here at Sinai. In addition, I would use my voice as an international scholar to fight for better support and resource for our diverse international community. I believe our collective effort will build a more inclusive and safer workplace for all.
Tri Dong
Graduate student workers are one of the main driving forces for scientific and medical advancement at Mount Sinai. Yet, our labor remains unacknowledged even though Sinai reaps the benefits of such work. Student workers are taught to be submissive and appreciative of whatever the institution offers under the argument that we are just “students”. This is no longer the case as we can now bargain with Sinai as equals and have a say in decisions that directly affect us. Through many conversations with graduate student workers at Sinai, there are apparent needs for liveable wages, better healthcare, improved working conditions, and many improvements in other areas. As part of the Bargaining Committee, I strive to fight for a strong contract that will protect and support grad student workers, especially those in marginalized groups.