Protect our undergrads, build our momentum
Hi everyone,
Just one week after beginning our strike, the university has already made improvements on their initial proposal (after weeks of insisting that they had no more to give).
We began the session raising an issue of recent, pressing concern: disciplinary action that the university has levied against undergraduate freshmen. The university has dubiously targeted very few individual freshmen — disproportionately students of color — for peaceful protest performed by hundreds of students, including those of us on the bargaining committee. After the university’s lawyers made false claims about these students’ actions, we insisted that it is unfair to target these undergraduates for an activity in support of the union and demanded that Columbia refrain from disciplinary action.
Make no mistake: our strike is working! University administration evidently feels threatened by a student community united against Columbia’s incoherent labor practices and inconsistent disciplinary procedures. Undergraduates have been instrumental in our fight, showing strong support for a fair contract. Student solidarity puts pressure on the university to make substantive changes — which they have done this week.
During Thursday’s momentous picket and rally at the CUMC campus, the university called in the NYPD who brought barricades for the occasion. Apparently the university needed reminding that picketing is a legal and protected activity and in no way should the police be brought in to intimidate striking workers. They excused this, stating that the sidewalk outside of CUMC buildings is not considered “campus,” reinforcing the importance of our cops and ICE off-campus provisions.
Next, we were able to discuss the issue of transition funding with the deans. In response to the university’s non-binding letter on transitional funding that they offered on Wednesday, we delivered a counter proposal to ensure the union can grieve this offer of funding. Despite their more recent willingness to bargain — no doubt encouraged by our strike! — the university refuses to make concrete offers on some of our primary concerns: compensation, non-discrimination and harassment, health benefits, and recognition.
On compensation, we reminded the university team that (a) inflation is the highest it has ever been since the 1990’s and (b) the university’s current proposals amount to a pay cut with inflation considered. Despite what Provost Boyce has suggested via email — that the union is reluctant to negotiate — it is the university that has stalled, refusing to present counter proposals on highly significant issues or even comment on them without a mediator.
In short, this week’s bargaining sessions have shown that we need to maintain our momentum and strength! Our next bargaining session will be on Tuesday, November 16th at 11:00am. In the meantime, keep showing up on the picket line, either in-person or virtually, and share the hardship fund (fundraising template here) to help striking students remain on strike.
In solidarity,
Your bargaining committee