In our 6th bargaining session, we pressed Columbia to justify their refusal to bargain over critical economic proposals, such as Housing, Childcare, and Transit, and we brought a counter on Vacations to show we’re serious about reaching a deal. Columbia responded with another package proposal that included minimal movement, while continuing to insist on a freezing minimum salaries and cuts to guaranteed annual raises.

We communicated plainly and directly that while we appreciate the small movement the University is making in certain areas, these movements do not add up to a fair contract, and the clock is running out before our agreement expires. Here are some of the details on where they moved:

  • On International Employees, Columbia partially accepted our language allowing premium processing fees when employment is at risk, but rejected protections against unreasonable denials, leaving significant inequities for postdocs.

  • On Union Access Rights & Activity, Columbia accepted our language on protected time for union orientations.

  • On Vacations, Columbia moved off their opening position. They had wanted to cut the payout for unused vacation from the current 23 days down to just 5. Their latest package caps the end-of-appointment payout at 10 days — still less than half of what’s in our current contract.

In the interest of showing good faith, we gave Columbia a counter on Vacations: we reasserted the current language on the number of days and accepted the University’s language on a more standardized documentation process.

To our disappointment, Columbia continues their refusal to engage on issues that are highly impactful to our reality living in NYC:

  • Housing: the single largest expense most of us face, consuming up to 50-60% of a postdoc’s salary even in Columbia housing. Columbia says it won’t put a single word about housing in our contract.

  • Transportation: including the Fort Lee shuttle that members fought to save. Columbia insists on retaining the right to cut shuttles as needed – effectively shifting financial burdens on to workers.

  • Childcare: Columbia wants to strip the specific subsidy amount out of the side letter and has stated it has no intention of increasing it.

  • Leaves of absence: we proposed 16 weeks and a fairer eligibility threshold. Columbia maintains that the current language is “sufficient.”

Of the other economic proposals they previously offered, including freezing postdoc/ARS minimums and cutting anniversary raises from 3% to 2%, Columbia’s package did not include any movement. Instead they insisted that these reductions are a generous offer, despite this being an effective pay cut given record increases in inflation, and unacceptable to members financially struggling in one of the most expensive areas of the country.

We will continue fighting for every one of these priorities. But what happens at the table depends on what we do away from it. Every inch Columbia has given, we won by mobilizing. This is proof that the pressure works and the way we close the rest of the gap.

We will be bargaining again this Monday at 1:30pm in Hammer building Room LL207, please RSVP here to attend!

Solidarity,

Daniel Savran, Preventive Medicine
CPW-UAW 4100 Bargaining Committee