Updates on Bargaining, GBM on Tuesday!
We hope you had a restful holiday week and are energized for another strike week!
For those who missed it, we spent our NYE with the university back at the bargaining table. We began by offering Columbia a comprehensive package with significant movement in the key areas of union security and duration. After considering our offer, Columbia responded by presenting us with an option of two different supposals connecting union security and recognition:
Drop any form of union security, for all unit members, in exchange for the NLRB language on recognition that we have proposed, or else,
Adopt our hybrid fair share contribution model, in exchange for new recognition language that maintains 15 hour per week cut-offs, but also includes student workers on the casual payroll who provide instructional services only after one full semester of serving as a Course Assistant, or on appointment.
After consulting with the unit in caucus, the BC opted to reject both of the University’s supposals. While the University argues that their supposals would prevent individuals already on appointment from being casualized, it would not prevent the University from converting formerly appointed positions to casual positions in the first place, or from systematically restructuring hiring across departments to displace unit positions over the duration of the contract and beyond. In effect, the University is still demanding that we choose between either NLRB recognition text, or any form of union security (with a 5 year duration accompanied by either option).
We have a general body meeting at 5pm on Tuesday [link here]. We anticipate several important votes taking place during the session to determine how to move forward, so please join us and bring others from your department to make your voices heard.
Round 5 of the Hardship Fund is open through January 10th [application link here]. As a reminder, we’re collecting information on registration holds so we can understand how to best support strikers experiencing holds on their accounts [link to form here].
This week, your strike hour requirement is reduced to 5 hours to accommodate the ongoing winter break. If you have any questions or concerns regarding UAW Strike Fund payments, email [columbiagradunion@gmail.com].
We have digital pickets on Tuesday and Wednesday this week from 12:30-2:00pm [link here]. See you all at the digital picket and GBM tomorrow!
In solidarity,
Your bargaining committee