Today marks 4 years since our overwhelming vote in favor of unionizing, when a majority of graduate workers voted 1,602-623—72% YES—to join Graduate Workers of Columbia-UAW Local 2110. Since 2016, we have demonstrated majority support for our union time and time again, including our open letter for real recourse against discrimination and harassment, a strike to bring Columbia to the bargaining table in April 2018, and two strike authorization votes, one in Spring 2018 and one this past Spring, when we voted 1,833-77, 96% in favor of authorizing our Bargaining Committee to call a strike in order to reach the contract we deserve.
While we have made significant progress over the last four years, the university is still obstructing our access to a neutral grievance procedure for all cases of discrimination and harassment; guaranteed access to healthcare, including vision and dental; and protections for international students with real accountability—the very reasons we voted to form a union four years ago. Moreover, Columbia is once again debating who should be recognized as part of our bargaining unit, going against their own commitment in the Framework Agreement of 2018.
We must keep up the pressure as we bargain toward our first contract!
Get involved by reaching out to your department organizer, contacting us at columbiagradunion@gmail.com, or attending one of next week’s General Body Meetings. You can sign up for the meeting on Wednesday, December 16, at 7 PM EST here, or for the meeting on Friday, December 18, at 9 AM EST here. We’ll hear from the Bargaining Committee and start preparing for the next semester.
In addition, our next bargaining sessions are scheduled for
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Friday, December 11, 9:30 AM-1 PM EST;
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Tuesday, December 15, 1:30-5 PM EST; and
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Monday, December 21, 1:30-5 PM EST.
Please fill out this RSVP form if you would like to attend the session(s) over Zoom.