"It's historic," said UMass RA Patrick Colvario. "But it's more about educational and academic workers ensuring their educational opportunities through protecting their jobs."
UMass administrators immediately criticized the RAs' decision, indicating that they may challenge the move.
"It is a mistake for the RAs to vote to be part of a union and it will certainly change the residential life program," said Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs F. Javier Cevallos.
According to Colvario, the RAs do not expect the University to challenge the decision. However the administrators believe that the law may have been misused and are considering a legal challenge of the RAs' decision.
"The University is considering the issue carefully and we will explore all our legal options," said Cevallos.
A decision by the Massachusetts Labor Relations Committee cleared the way for the vote to be held. However, that vote has generated controversy among UMass administrators.
"I believe that the [Massachusetts] Labor Relations Commission made an erroneous application of the law when it allowed RAs to vote for unionization," said Cevallos,
According to the RAs, the move to unionize was spurred by many factors, including the belief that the compensation for the job is too low-currently, they are paid $50 per week for 20 hours of work. They also receive an additional $87 per week discount on housing.
"Basically [unionizing] allows us to negotiating our contract with administration on a more equal basis," said Colvario. "Previously, we would go and ask them to make changes ... and they could say, 'No that doesn't need to be changed,' and we'd have no recourse. This gives us a chance to say, 'You need to bargain with us in good faith about each thing membership thinks is a problem; you have to listen and have to make some changes.'"
RAs also complained that the job sometimes requires more than 20 hours of work per week and that the job of RA can be dangerous, especially when dealing with troublesome residents. In addition, RAs are often required to be on call and must stay in the dorms during special events, such as the Super Bowl, when administrators worry that trouble might break out.
The RAs have similar responsibilities to those of residential counselors (RCs) at the College. These responsibilities include counseling students, reporting problems and organizing activities for their residents.
"The position of RC is almost a volunteer position," said Dean of Students Ben Lieber. "People seem to take the job not for financial reasons but for the public service aspects of it. The strength of a union seems to lie in collective bargaining in order to increase wages, which doesn't really seem to speak to the nature of the position here at Amherst."
Lusha Ding '04, an RC in North, said that the College adequately compensates the RCs. "I think the compensation is good for what it is. We receive a lot of respect and are represented well in the community," she said.
Ding also said that College RCs do not need to unionize. "Amherst is a very different environment from UMass-I just don't think that changes are necessary," she said.
"We're treated very fairly and the residential life program cares very much about our needs. I think we're just fine the way we are now," said Tiana McLean '04, an RC in Morrow.