With the first day of strike set to November 1st, you or your colleagues may be wondering how visa status impacts the ability to go on strike.
The good news is that there are some resources and answers available through the Strike F.A.Q. that was built using the experience of other union locals that have faced these same questions. Below are some questions that have come up before and answers – could you share them with your colleagues?
When we strike, what should I communicate to my PI?
- If you haven’t already done so, please share these form emails [DRAFT CPW EMAIL] with your PI/supervisor. They will provide background information.
- Encourage them to take actions to help end a strike quickly
- Speak to their department chair
- Contact labor director of Labor relations Mary Ann Carlese (mc3436@cumc.columbia.edu) and/or the lead negotiator for the administration and Vice President of Human Resources Daniel Driscoll (dd2733@columbia.edu)
- Invite them to join us on the picket line
When we strike, what should I tell my collaborators, both internal and external, to Columbia?
We encourage you to communicate in advance that a strike is a possibility and to discuss what this will mean for your work together.
Encourage them to contact the director of Contact labor director of Labor relations Mary Ann Carlese (mc3436@cumc.columbia.edu) and/or the lead negotiator for the administration and Vice President of Human Resources Daniel Driscoll (dd2733@columbia.edu) and communicate the impact this is having on shared work.
When we strike, will advance notice be provided?
Yes.
We have already sent a message to faculty informing them of how they can help prevent a potential strike, and have announced our strike deadline publicly. We may not know until the end of the day of our final scheduled bargaining date, October 5th, whether or not we will be going out on strike, but Columbia is fully aware of what they can do to prevent it from happening. Should the strike be called, we will send out an email and text to all postdocs and ARSs and inform building, floor, and lab point members to instruct their colleagues on when and where to join the first picket line.
Will the University ask me to attest whether I am working or not?
The University may ask postdocs and ARSs to “attest” as to whether they worked, or not, during a strike. These are forms that Universities sometimes use to assess whether or not to deduct pay for work not performed during a strike. It is unlawful to ask workers to fill out strike attestation forms before a strike or before a relevant payroll period. There is power in numbers: workers should fill out these forms truthfully and accurately, but only after the work has been struck.
Do I have the legal right to participate in a strike?
Yes. It is unlawful under US Federal law to fire or discipline workers for participating in a lawful strike. This protection also applies to international and undocumented postdocs and ARSs. Ultimately, our greatest protection is robust mass participation: there is strength in numbers.
READ THE FULL STRIKE F.A.Q. HERE
If you have any unanswered questions, please contact this email address ASAP. In the meantime, this Strike Planning Worksheet will help you and your labmates to work together on how to stop work and start picket duties on November 1st, the first day of Striking.
Your colleagues will need your help in running a successful strike – and the Bargaining Committee will continue to negotiate for a fair contract before and during the strike, so that we can win the contract we need as soon as possible.
Read the Contract Demands Here
Not a member yet? You’ll need to be to qualify for strike benefits!
In solidarity,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Bargaining & Organizing Committees.
In solidarity,
Your Friendly Neighborhood Bargaining & Organizing Committees.
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