We started off Tuesday, June 30th, the day of our contract expiration, with an energizing rally on Haven Plaza! Over 200 postdocs and ARS attended and we had speeches from several members and allies, including Democratic congressional candidates Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier! Immediately following the rally, we held a marathon bargaining session with the University that began with our bargaining team making a counter package offer.

We made significant movement in our package in the interest of reaching of an agreement before our contract expired, but after several hours of deliberation, the University countered with only minor increases in the minimum salaries, insufficient solutions on major issues like job instability, additional money in the hardship fund to be used over the lifetime of the of a 4 year agreement effectively further reducing the significance of this movement. We stayed late into the evening and made our best attempt at reaching an agreement with the University, offering a second counter package proposal, but the University did not reciprocate.

At the end of the session, Columbia’s team offered a two week extension of our current contract to allow for additional time to reach an agreement, as well as third party mediation. We accepted the two week extension but declined mediation at this time, because we believe there is still progress to be made by bargaining directly with the University.

Here are some details on our counter proposals on June 30th:

  • On Compensation, we proposed $80k minimum for postdocs and $92k minimum for ARS, with 3.5% anniversary raises.

  • On the Hardship Support Fund, we proposed $2 million dollars and $5000 per person per year.

  • On International Employees, we reasserted much of our language and moved to 10 days for visa renewal and down to $2,500 on visa renewal fee reimbursement.

  • On Appointments, we proposed modified, narrow exceptions for short reappointments and decreased the raises granted to postdocs/ARS who receive short reappointments.

  • On Non-discrimination, we reasserted language in several areas while making movement on accepting some of the University’s language on anti-bullying.

  • We reasserted our previous proposals on Childcare, Housing, and Transit, and Union Access, Rights.

Here is a summary of Columbia’s proposals:

  • On Effective Date & Duration of the contract, Columbia proposed for the contract to be 4 years rather than 3 years, extending the amount of time before we can renegotiate our working conditions again.

  • On Compensation, Columbia proposed just $73,588 for postdocs minimums and $80,914 for ARS, with a 3% anniversary raise in the first year.

  • On Hardship Support Fund, Columbia proposed a $1,000,000 for the life of the four-year contract.

  • On Appointments, Columbia responded with a Side Letter on “Regarding Reappointments” about convening a working group to discuss reappointments.

  • On Parking and Transportation, Columbia also responded with a Side Letter about convening a working group regarding transportation and shuttle services.

We held another bargaining session with the administration on July 8th, and the only substantive change Columbia made in their package counter proposal was to argue for NO retroactive raises, meaning that raises would only take effect once our contract is ratified. Between this and the 4-year contract proposal Columbia continues to make movements that do not address the biggest concerns of postdocs/ARS.

We are bargaining again today, July 14th at 1pm in Studebaker to reach an agreement before the two year extension expires. Please take a moment and RSVP here to join us at the table.

Solidarity,

Anna Yoney, Genetics & Development
Sam Seidman, Psychiatry
CPW-UAW 4100 Bargaining Committee