“We are happy to announce that Columbia University has offered a historic pathway forward that “is intended to promote good-faith bargaining toward initial contracts” with Graduate Workers of Columbia-UAW and Columbia Postdoctoral Workers-UAW. The proposed framework agreement that, if approved by the workers, would lead to bargaining for initial contracts starting in the winter. “We commend Columbia and believe we can negotiate a fair contract that improves the lives of workers while respecting Columbia’s right to manage its overall academic mission and enhance its reputation as a world leader in teaching and research.” -Beverley Brakeman, Director of UAW Region 9A
For Immediate Release: Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 Board rejects Columbia objections to December 2016 union vote and certifies GWC-UAW; workers call on administration to fulfill legal obligation to bargain with largest-ever graduate workers union at a private university WASHINGTON, DC—The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has upheld an overwhelming December 2016 vote in favor of unionization and certified Graduate Workers of Columbia-UAW (GWC-UAW) as the union for 3,000 research and teaching assistants who work at the Ivy League school. GWC-UAW leaders immediately requested that the administration fulfil its legal obligation to start good-faith negotiations for a contract, which would cover ...
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NEW YORK, NY — Unions seeking representation for more than 3,000 research and teaching assistants (RAs and TAs) filed certification petitions with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) today. Graduate Workers of Columbia (GWC-UAW), the union for 2,800 Columbia University RAs and TAs, and Student Employees of New School (SENS-UAW), the union for over 350 RAs and TAs at the New School, filed petitions at the Manhattan NLRB office to become part of the UAW. GWC-UAW and SENS-UAW both announced recently that a majority of RAs and TAs at their respective universities had signed cards choosing union representation and asked ...
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