We are announcing a strike deadline. We have just sent President Bollinger a letter demanding that the university declare its intention to begin bargaining by 10am on April 24. If the university continues to defy both labor law and the democratic voice of its workers, and does not agree to bargain by that date, we will go on strike immediately on April 24, and continue the strike through the end of classes (April 30). This is only the beginning; if Columbia continues to refuse to bargain, they should expect us to strike again.

This decision to strike follows not only a democratic vote by a majority of grad workers, but also over a thousand organizing conversations across departments over the past few months. Department leaders will continue to reach out over the next week to develop more detailed plans with their departments, and we will host a general body meeting to answer questions about the strike on Monday, April 16 from 7-9pm in Avery Hall Room 114. We urge Columbia to begin bargaining and avert a strike—we came to graduate school because we care about the work that we do, and we would like the opportunity to continue that work with all the security a contract provides. For that very reason, we are prepared to strike if Columbia makes such an action necessary.

In order to be fully prepared for this action, we encourage you to:

Just like the vote, the strike depends on all of our strong participation. We are the union. Bargain now!