Columbia U grad students win strike

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gounion
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Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2021 4:59 pm

Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by gounion »

Via WaPo, after 10 weeks, grad students win strike and new contract:
The deal brings the Student Workers of Columbia, an affiliate of the United Auto Workers Local 2110, closer to a new contract after months of tense negotiations and 10 weeks of picketing that resulted in the cancellation of some classes. It is the second agreement the union will be voting on after an earlier deal was rejected by members last spring.

“This really shows the power of democratic union politics,” said Johannah King-Slutzky, a union member and doctoral student in Columbia’s English department. “We had a tentative agreement before that for some of our members would have been an effective pay cut. We had to be more inclusive and fight harder.”

The four-year deal, covering more than 5,000 workers, guarantees minimum annual raises of 3 percent. It features workplace protections, including the right to neutral third-party arbitration in cases of harassment and discrimination — a sticking point during negotiations.

The contract secures pay increases of up to 30 percent, comprehensive dental coverage and higher child-care stipends. It also establishes a $300,000 fund for out-of-pocket medical expenses and another similar fund for dependents.
Wow, a GREAT contract that shows that collective bargaining works to raise living conditions for workers. Here's what made me laugh:
“We are proud of this agreement, which would make Columbia a leader in higher education on a long list of issues affecting student employees,” Columbia Provost Mary C. Boyce said in a campuswide letter Friday. “There is no doubt that this has been a challenging period for the University, yet all who were involved in collective bargaining shared the common goal of creating a stronger Columbia.”
Proud of it? What a load of bullshit. If they were PROUD of this agreement, they would have recognized the union in the first place, and negotiated a living wage contract WITHOUT a crippling 10-week strike! That's just them trying to put a good face on a huge embarrassment.

The university just wanted cheap labor.
marindem01
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Re: Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by marindem01 »

Great job by Union. Columbia screwed the pooch by holding out for so long.
Love of Country is not Blind Patriotism. It is not devotion to one person or one party. It is knowing fighting for your country is single most important thing you can do. Do not accept the notion violence is the answer.
gounion
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Re: Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by gounion »

marindem01 wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:48 am Great job by Union. Columbia screwed the pooch by holding out for so long.
College was surface bargaining, which was why they went out on strike.

Going ahead and striking is the best way to get a first contract.
marindem01
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Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:10 pm
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Re: Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by marindem01 »

gounion wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:55 am College was surface bargaining, which was why they went out on strike.

Going ahead and striking is the best way to get a first contract.
The Uni left the Union no choice but to strike.
Love of Country is not Blind Patriotism. It is not devotion to one person or one party. It is knowing fighting for your country is single most important thing you can do. Do not accept the notion violence is the answer.
gounion
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Re: Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by gounion »

marindem01 wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 11:58 am The Uni left the Union no choice but to strike.
They had to strike in order to force the college to bargain in good faith.

And wow, they got a great contract! 30 percent raises!
marindem01
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Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2021 12:10 pm
Location: S.F. Bay Area

Re: Columbia U grad students win strike

Post by marindem01 »

gounion wrote: Sat Jan 08, 2022 12:04 pm They had to strike in order to force the college to bargain in good faith.

And wow, they got a great contract! 30 percent raises!
My Dad always tried to calling a strike, but if he needed to he did. He also refuse cross any picket line, a tradition that I continue. His support for ALPA against Southern cost him several other jobs, but he did what he had to do.
Love of Country is not Blind Patriotism. It is not devotion to one person or one party. It is knowing fighting for your country is single most important thing you can do. Do not accept the notion violence is the answer.
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