The specificities of each of these goals was worked out by postdocs and Associate researchers in over 9 Town Halls over the month on March. [Click if you miss them!]
This initial draft for contract demands was amended, discuss and voted by union members at our February membership meeting. This initial draft served to have conversations with coworkers over the next months to change, improve and define what we want to win in our next contract.
The Bargaining Committee analyzed the results of Bargaining Surveys done by a majority of the ~1650 postdocs/ARSs at Columbia. The results were presented at our January membership meeting where a draft for contract demands was discussed an voted on. >> Since January postdocs and Associate researchers have been signing in support, discussing and submitting feedback to change and improve our demands.
Come join your union comrades to celebrate the season and get us through to bargaining with some fun and camaraderie! At two different locations: CUIMC and Morningside campuses.
Over the course of several months Working groups are formed, initiated, consulted, revived with Bargaining in mind (but not only). We analyzed current status at Columbia and other institutions, make topic issue surveys to understand further different issues and come up with proposals for imrpoving our contract. [Click to join one of our Working Groups]
On Thursday, August 4th, our new Bargaining Committee gathered with a group of postdocs and ARS from all over the University who want to help us win a strong contract next year. This meeting kicked off our contract campaign, and we discussed: 1) ideas for what we want to obtain in our next contract to design our Bargaining Survey and 2) build a strategy to engage postdocs and ARSs to win on our major issues.
As per our bylaws (Art. 9) we elected 5 members at large to be part of the Bargaining Committee along with 4 members of the Executive Board. We have an extra alternate without voting powers.
On June 27th, we joined fellow UAW union members from, ACT-UAW Local 7902 (NYU adjuncts and New School part-time faculty, student workers, and health service employees), BAM union (Brooklyn Academy of Music ) and UAW Local 2120 at the Queer Liberation March!
Our stewards elections period ended with 18 stewards elected from 23 open positions. Stewards are Postdocs or ARSs colleagues that will discuss and help with any concerns or questions you may have, whether specific to your workplace, funding, benefits, or more general thoughts about the current moment. With the ratification of our first union contract, we now have a process to help you advocate for yourself by enforcing workplace protections. Whenever you have questions or doubts arise, do not hesitate to reach out to your steward.
Bylaws are an important governing structure of union locals. They address things like the structure and frequency of membership meetings, the number of stewards, how officers and stewards are elected and can be recalled, how future bargaining committees are structured and elected, and how members can amend bylaws in the future. On our October membership meeting we discussed a final draft for our Local bylaws written by Postdocs and ARS volunteering as our bylaws committee. They based the draft on bylaws from other Academic union locals and feedback by CPW members discussed at meetings and send online over a period of 10 days. The online vote on whether to approve the bylaws concluded with 100% of those participating voting yes to ratify our bylaws.