Package dropped, the pressure is on Columbia

Today concluded the presentation of our new package of proposals to Columbia’s team. After discussing compensation and recognition a week ago, and healthcare last Tuesday, we presented our proposals concerning non-discrimination and harassment, as well as union dues.

• We opened the session by addressing several concerns regarding Columbia’s management of the campus re-opening. 

  • On contact-tracing, we asked why several TAs have had some of their students fall sick, while not being themselves contacted by Covid tracers. We urged Columbia to have contact tracers ask about class participation, and contact students, professors, and TAs when a participant to the class tests positive. 

  • On testing results, we asked why statistics on test results have not been available on Columbia’s website since September 19th, and asked that they provide us with the schedule by which future results will be made available. 

  • Finally, Columbia stopped the Covid-related childcare subsidy set-up last year, increasing the childcare subsidy from 2k to 4k. We asked that this increase be extended an additional year, as parents still face the same struggles. 

• Our team presented the last elements from our package of proposals - at the same time listing all the articles which our members have decided to re-open after the rejection of the TA last spring. 

  • We first presented our modifications to the Non-Discrimination and Harassment Article. We first renewed our long-time ask for access to arbitration, both for Title IX cases, and for power-based harassment. This proposal also sets interim measures, similar to the Brown SUGSE Article IX.8 (i.e. options beyond those determined and administered by EOAA). Finally, it introduces flexible bridge funding for advisor transfers. 

  • We then presented our reformed proposal on union dues - which sets a three-tiered system, giving a possibility for workers to pay dues to the union, an agency fee, or make an equivalent contribution to the student employee support fund. Any dues can be automatically debited through Columbia’s payroll.

  • Finally, we concluded by reminding Columbia that we will be expecting proposals in response to ours at our next session on October 7th. 

In spite of our detailed presentations of the re-opened articles, Columbia persisted in its unwilligness to comment on our proposals until the package was fully presented, and the deans once again remained absent from the session.

More than ever, we need our unit’s strength to obtain real progress in bargaining and finally close these contract negotiations. 

In Solidarity,

Your Bargaining Committee