2021 Columbia University Strike

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1	handwiki	Vivi Li	--	2373	2022-11-15 01:35:16

The content is sourced from: https://handwiki.org/wiki/Organization:2021_Columbia_University_strike

The 2021 Columbia University strike was a labor strike involving graduate students at Columbia University in New York City . The strike, which began on March 15, 2021, was organized by the Graduate Workers of Columbia–United Auto Workers Local 2110, a labor union representing student workers at the university. This union was formed in December 2016 and has had a contentious relationship with the university since its founding, with the university only agreeing to recognize the union in 2019. That same year, the union and university began to negotiate a labor contract, but disagreements between the two entities have prevented an agreement from being made. The main issue concerns union recognition, with the university recognizing only fully-funded doctoral students as union members, while the union also recognizes master's students and undergraduate teaching assistants as members. Additional issues include disagreements over health benefits and child care, among others. While the union voted in March 2020 to authorize strike action, these plans were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in February 2021, still without a labor contract, the union announced their intent to strike the following month. The strike began on March 15 as an open-ended strike action, with no set end date. The strike coincided with a tuition strike that had been coordinated by the local chapter of the Young Democratic Socialists of America. Picketing and other forms of protest were held at numerous Columbia locations throughout New York City, and multiple elected officials and politicians announced their support for the strikers. On April 19, a contract proposal was submitted for ratification by the union members, but it was rejected in a rank-and-file vote. Following this, a vote was held in early May to determine the future of the strike, with a majority of voters choosing to end the strike, which officially ended on May 13. Following the end of the strike, on July 3, new leaders for the union were elected who promised to continue to push for a labor contract with the university. Additionally, the name of the union was changed to the Student Workers of Columbia. While negotiations were set to resume on August 25, a disagreement between who should be allowed to attend the meeting caused an impasse, with Columbia pushing for a closed-door meeting with a limited number of attendees and the union wanting the negotiations open to all members. On September 15, the union initiated another strike authorization vote and filed an unfair labor practice charge against the university.

undergraduate teaching graduate students labor contract

References

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Harris, Elizabeth A. (December 9, 2016). "Columbia Graduate Students Vote Overwhelmingly to Unionize" (in en-US). The New York Times (The New York Times Company). ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/09/nyregion/columbia-graduate-students-union-vote.html.
Harris, Elizabeth A. (January 30, 2018). "Columbia University Says It Won't Bargain With Graduate Student Union" (in en-US). The New York Times (The New York Times Company). ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/30/nyregion/columbia-university-wont-bargain-with-graduate-student-union.html.
Lee, Eli (April 25, 2018). "Picket lines and canceled classes mark beginning of graduate student strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2018/04/25/picket-lines-and-canceled-classes-mark-beginning-of-graduate-student-strike/.
Mok, Jane; Tereshchenko, Victoria (March 18, 2021). "The graduate workers union strike: explained". http://columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/2021/03/18/the-graduate-workers-union-strike-explained/.
Yaffe-Bellany, David (September 20, 2019). "Graduate Students, After Gains in Union Efforts, Face a Federal Setback" (in en-US). The New York Times (The New York Times Company). ISSN 0362-4331. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/09/20/business/economy/grad-students-labor.html.
Abrahamson, Talia (February 26, 2021). "Graduate Workers Union announces intention to strike on March 15". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/02/26/graduate-workers-union-announces-intention-to-strike-on-march-15/.
"Graduate Workers Begin Strike For Fair Contract, Bringing Many Courses To A Halt". March 15, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/03/graduate-workers-begin-strike-for-fair-contract-bringing-many-courses-to-a-halt/.
Olivier, Indigo (February 18, 2021). "The Columbia University student strike is about far more than tuition" (in en). Guardian Media Group. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/feb/18/the-columbia-university-student-strike-is-about-far-more-than-tuition.
Abrahamson, Talia (March 11, 2021). "Strike deadline looms over bargaining discussions, days before GWC student workers walk out". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/11/strike-deadline-looms-over-bargaining-discussions-days-before-gwc-student-workers-walk-out/.
""It's A Beautiful Day For A Strike Deadline!" Columbia Graduate Workers Union Holds Rally Ahead Of Strike Deadline Of March 15th". February 25, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/02/its-a-beautiful-day-for-a-strike-deadline-columbia-graduate-workers-union-holds-rally-ahead-of-strike-deadline-of-march-15th/.
"Interim Provost Speaks On Upcoming Graduate Workers Strike". March 8, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/03/interim-provost-speaks-on-upcoming-graduate-workers-strike/.
Patel, Vimal (March 11, 2021). "A Labor Sympathizer, Now on the Management Side, Calls for 'Mutual Realism'". https://www.chronicle.com/article/a-labor-sympathizer-now-on-the-management-side-calls-for-mutual-realism.
Bachman, Brett; Algar, Selim (March 15, 2021). "Graduate student workers at Columbia University go on strike" (in en-US). News Corp. https://nypost.com/2021/03/15/columbia-university-grad-student-workers-go-on-strike/.
Houlihan, Glenn (March 20, 2021). "Columbia Graduate Workers Are on Strike. Other Higher-Ed Workers Should Follow Their Lead." (in en-US). https://jacobinmag.com/2021/03/columbia-graduate-workers-strike-students-nlrb.
Abrahamson, Talia (March 16, 2021). "After two years of unsuccessful negotiations, student-workers are officially on strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/16/after-two-years-of-unsuccessful-negotiations-student-workers-are-officially-on-strike/.
Melbourne, Abby (March 19, 2021). "Local political candidates join picket lines, endorse student-worker strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/19/local-political-candidates-join-picket-lines-endorse-student-worker-strike/.
Pagkas, Stella (March 24, 2021). "Undergraduates express solidarity with ongoing student-worker strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/25/undergraduates-express-solidarity-with-ongoing-student-worker-strike/.
Abrahamson, Talia (March 19, 2021). "Negotiations remain at standstill between Columbia, GWC-UAW nearly one week into strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/19/negotiations-remain-at-standstill-between-columbia-gwc-uaw-nearly-one-week-into-strike/.
Karpen, Elizabeth (March 19, 2021). "Five days into Columbia student-worker strike, NYU graduate workers announce strike vote". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/03/19/five-days-into-columbia-student-worker-strike-nyu-graduate-workers-announce-strike-vote/.
Fitzgerald-Diaz, Grace (April 2, 2021). "Representative Jamaal Bowman And Councilwoman Carlina Rivera Join GWC-UAW Picket Line". https://bwog.com/2021/04/representative-jamaal-bowman-and-councilwoman-carlina-rivera-join-gwc-uaw-picket-line/.
"Strike Update: University Proposes Changes To EOAA; Union Pushes For Further Guarantees". March 24, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/03/strike-update-university-proposes-changes-to-eoaa-union-pushes-for-further-guarantees/.
Schermele, Zachary (April 2, 2021). "Concerns over learning loss, grades mount in third week of graduate workers strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/04/02/concerns-over-learning-loss-grades-mount-in-third-week-of-graduate-workers-strike/.
"OP-ED: Solidarity with the graduate workers of Columbia University and their strike" (in en). April 1, 2021. http://www.technicianonline.com/opinion/article_bd9829ea-9301-11eb-a9f0-c7e519f79ea3.html.
Abrahamson, Talia (April 3, 2021). "GWC-UAW student workers' strike put on pause during mediation talks". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/04/03/gwc-uaw-student-workers-strike-put-on-pause-during-mediation-talks/.
Abrahamson, Talia (April 6, 2021). "Facing fall registration and diploma holds, students vote to end Columbia tuition strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/04/06/facing-fall-registration-and-diploma-holds-students-vote-to-end-columbia-tuition-strike/.
Kahme, Lauren (April 7, 2021). "Columbia-Barnard YDSA Tuition Strike Ended". https://bwog.com/2021/04/columbia-barnard-ydsa-tuition-strike-ended/.
Soni, Aruni; Schermele, Zachary (April 8, 2021). "As most student-workers return to work, the religion department continues to strike". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/04/08/as-most-student-workers-return-to-work-the-religion-department-continues-to-strike/.
Abrahamson, Talia (April 19, 2021). "GWC-UAW Bargaining Committee to present contract for ratification vote". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/04/19/gwc-uaw-bargaining-committee-to-present-contract-for-ratification-vote/.
Abrahamson, Talia (May 2, 2021). "Dissatisfied with contract negotiations and bargaining committee, GWC-UAW student-workers vote to reject tentative agreement". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/05/02/dissatisfied-with-contract-negotiations-and-bargaining-committee-gwc-uaw-student-workers-vote-to-reject-tentative-agreement/.
"Vote to End or Continue the Strike Starts Tomorrow" (in en-US). May 4, 2021. https://columbiagradunion.org/2021/05/04/vote-to-end-or-continue-the-strike-starts-tomorrow/.
Sentner, Irie (May 19, 2021). "All 10 GWC-UAW bargaining committee members resign following months of internal tension". http://columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/05/19/all-10-gwc-uaw-bargaining-committee-members-resign-following-months-of-internal-tension/.
"An Interview With The Three Dissenting Members Of The GWC-UAW Bargaining Committee" (in en). May 15, 2021. http://bwog.com/2021/05/an-interview-with-the-three-dissenting-members-of-the-gwc-uaw-bargaining-committee/.
"Notice of Elections for Interim Election Committee and Bargaining Committee Vacancies" (in en-US). May 14, 2021. https://columbiagradunion.org/.
Melbourne, Abby (July 27, 2021). "Student-worker union elections result in new name and bargaining committee". https://www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2021/07/27/student-worker-union-elections-result-in-new-name-and-bargaining-committee/.
Melbourne, Abby (August 4, 2021). "Change to stipend pay schedule leaves many graduate students struggling to afford fall expenses". https://www.columbiaspectator.com/main/2021/08/04/change-to-stipend-pay-schedule-leaves-many-graduate-students-struggling-to-afford-fall-expenses/.
"New Name, Same Struggle: An Update On The Student Workers Of Columbia And The Future Of Contract Negotiations". August 23, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/08/new-name-same-struggle-an-update-on-the-student-workers-of-columbia-and-the-future-of-contract-negotiations/.
"Student Workers Of Columbia Begin Vote For Strike Authorization". September 15, 2021. https://bwog.com/2021/09/student-workers-of-columbia-begin-vote-for-strike-authorization/.
Melkonyan, Victoria (October 1, 2021). "SWC Votes In Favor Of Strike Authorization". https://bwog.com/2021/10/swc-votes-in-favor-of-strike-authorization/.

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