Healthcare Working Group
About Us
The health care working group (HCWG) is an open working group under Columbia University’s student-workers union, the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC-UAW 2110). We fight for high quality, accessible, and affordable health care for all student workers at Columbia University.
We’re a small band of student workers hailing from across the university and have been active since 2018. We research our union’s health care needs and individual grievances and support the bargaining committee in their ongoing negotiations for a fair and comprehensive health care article.
Get Involved
Bi-weekly meetings on Thursdays 12:00pm-1:00pm ET. Complete the above form or email swc-healthcarewg@googlegroups.com to receive a Zoom link.
What We Do
Union protections are good for all student workers, for example by providing us with comprehensive, affordable health insurance and accessible health and mental health services. However, Columbia has not provided student workers with a quality health insurance plan and many workers have suffered as a result. Our goal as the HCWG is to hold Columbia accountable and ensure workers get the health coverage and health care they deserve.
Currently, we advocate for health care for all student workers by:
Creating channels and sharing information to help student workers navigate health care and Columbia health insurance (as well as helping students understand surprise bills and find in-network providers).
Documenting the health care experiences of students, especially during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Share your grievances using this form.
Researching and representing the health care needs of student workers in the bargaining process and other exchanges between GWC and Columbia administration.
Organizing campaigns to directly pressure the university to improve the delivery of health care on-campus outside of contract provisions, for example in relation to the appointment system.