Vote to Strike. Vote to Win.
We have hit a record number of first day votes in this Strike Authorization, and also for a voting period of this length. Our aim is to ensure high participation in this process. If you have not yet voted, we urge you to vote as soon as possible. If you have already voted, remind your colleagues of how important voting is!
We want to make sure that if you are eligible, you know that you can vote. If you are on leave, not working this semester, or close to receiving your degree, you are eligible to vote.
We have TWO bargaining sessions this week and a Strike Authorization Vote TOWN HALL
Bargaining: Tuesday 1 pm (12:30 Open Caucus)
Come hear our plan to improve Health Benefits
Bargaining Thursday 2 pm (1:30 Open Caucus)
Come hear our plan for discrimination/harassment protections and our NEW plan for transitional funding for those in unhealthy advising situations
STRIKE AUTHORIZATION VOTE TOWN HALL: Thursday at 7 pm
Our union is made up of a variety of different perspectives, so if you can only make one meeting come to the SAV Town Hall. Share your perspective and help us build a plan that works for all of us!
We need to work together to fight for a strong contract that we can ratify with a resounding yes.
We are ready to win. This afternoon our lawyers are filing an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Columbia for freezing student worker wages. We are also preparing to file further charges in the near future. Most importantly, our plan for a democratic, participatory strike process is laid out in our framework.
Our demands are exceedingly reasonable and are consistent with contract gains at other universities.
Student workers at Columbia had comprehensive dental coverage through the University student health insurance plan until the 2016-2017 academic year. We are working to get dental coverage back.
Student workers face debt collectors and struggle to pay rent. We are fighting to get better compensation.
Student workers subject to discrimination and sexual harassment or violence only have one avenue for recourse which is controlled start to finish by Columbia University, who has every incentive to protect abusive faculty. We need the standard union arbitration protections available to other student-worker unions.
Our contract must not exclude hourly workers recognized by the National Labor Relations Board.
Parent student workers face extraordinary financial challenges, and should receive far better support.
We are also following in NYU's footsteps to chip away at the powers that NYPD and ICE hold on Columbia’s campus.
Together we win.
Sincerely,
Bargaining Committee