Binghamton University has decided to give its new interim President a $70,000 raise over the previous president, bringing his salary to $355,000. In addition, they also provide him with an apartment, a vehicle, a driver, air travel reimbursement, and an entertainment allowance! The same administration that approved these extravagant expenses recently destroyed an entire program – Philosophy, Interpretation, & Culture – in the name of budget cuts, hasn’t given Teaching Assistants a raise since 2007 (which is equivalent to a pay cut because the cost of food & rent has gone up), grossly underpays adjunct teachers, and continuously uses state budget cuts as a pretext to attack workers’ standards of living and slash programs left and right. While giving President Magrath a $70,000 raise, SUNY management also decided to raise tuition again just before the semester started. Politicians cite the economic crisis and a general lack of money as to justify cutting spending on education and social programs, yet they never seem to have a problem finding money for endless wars or for bailing out the banks that caused the economic crisis. SUNY management, like the rest of the elite, is actually cutting programs to give themselves more wealth, using the economic crisis as a pretext. They are at war with us, and things will only get worse until workers organize as a class and launch a counter-offensive. It is time to fight back!
The Industrial Workers of the World in Binghamton will be having a General Interest Meeting this Wednesday, September 15th, at 5pm in UU205. This is an introduction to the Industrial Workers of the World and its branch at SUNY-Binghamton, the Binghamton Education Workers Union. The IWW is an international workers rights organization. We use collective direct action to fight for workers against bosses. If you want to fight back, or are interested in anti-capitalism, workers rights, labor unions, or class struggle, this is an event you’ll want to attend.
Food will be served.
