{"id":6977,"date":"2023-08-07T10:02:15","date_gmt":"2023-08-07T14:02:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/?p=6977"},"modified":"2023-08-07T10:02:16","modified_gmt":"2023-08-07T14:02:16","slug":"vote-now-strike-authorization-vote-starts-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/vote-now-strike-authorization-vote-starts-today\/","title":{"rendered":"[VOTE NOW] Strike Authorization Vote Starts TODAY"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image is-style-default\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"198\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-1024x198.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-5926\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-1024x198.png 1024w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-300x58.png 300w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-768x148.png 768w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-1536x297.png 1536w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/Banner-quote-Longer-2048x396.png 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">We are voting YES to authorize a strike if it becomes necessary to win a fair agreement.&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/sav\/\">Click here to cast your ballot!<\/a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>A recap on why we think this is best course of action: <\/strong><strong>\ud83c\udfc3\ud83d\udca8 \ud83c\udfc3\u23f1\ufe0f<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83e\udd0f\ud83d\udcb8 \ud83e\udd0fOn June 30 (the day our contract expired) <strong>CU Admin made an offer that fell short in most key priorities<\/strong> established by a majority of postdoc and ARSs [<a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1Xfqyo4PorZanVJj-o_jOpBOsQEqJb5Rg\/view?usp=drive_link\">read their offer here<\/a>]&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>New minimum salaries of $63,600 per year &#8211; <em>not even an adjustment for inflation<\/em> of our current $60K, i.e. an effective pay cut!&nbsp;<\/li><li>No support for Housing &#8211; <em>even though most NYC research institutions have guaranteed housing for their postdocs<\/em><\/li><li>No support for childcare in our contract &#8211; <em>which means that their current offer to increase to $5,000\/family could be removed any time<\/em>.<\/li><li>No option for all fellows to be considered full employees &#8211; <em>which means that fellows will still be penalized with lower benefits and complex taxation<\/em><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83c\udf11\ud83d\ude48\ud83c\udf11 <strong>Our PIs have been kept in the dark <\/strong>despite the results of these negotiations may very well affect their budgets:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Does your PI know that in <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1ENpxmKvtUYbl5BOBFOas1NXvNJqDQYFQHC0rSOAgg7M\/edit\">our latest offer of July 31<\/a> <strong>we decrease our salary demands if CU provides us more economic support outside of research grants? <\/strong>This can be done:&nbsp;<ul><li>with a <em>lump-sum yearly adjustment in response to increased Cost of Living<\/em> (Art 5, Section 8 and 9 on page 7),&nbsp;<\/li><li>a <em>housing stipend<\/em> to add to our salaries (Art 3, Section 3 on page 4)<\/li><li>or a <em>higher childcare benefit<\/em> like the one established in the grad student contract (Art 4, Section 1 on page 5)<\/li><\/ul><\/li><li>Admin has refused to talk about any of these.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PI_Testimonial-Aug041.pdf\"><strong>READ THE LETTER SIGNED BY PIs IN SUPPORT OF OUR CONTRACT DEMANDS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/contact-us\/faculty-support\/\"><strong>SHARE WITH YOUR PI IF YOU THINK THEY WILL SUPPORT!<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>\ud83c\udfc3\ud83d\udca8 \ud83c\udfc3<\/strong><strong>CU Admin has been trying to rush us into settling for a contract<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><em>Back in January<\/em> &#8211; we told them that <strong>we wanted to start negotiations earlier<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>to ensure we have the time to engage everyone and be representative<strong> <\/strong>of what the majority of postdocs\/ARSs.<strong> They ignored us<\/strong><\/li><li>They denied us the right to go to arbitration to settle a formal complaint (grievance), due to the <strong>unilateral removal of postdocs\/ARSs from the schools of Journalism and Law<\/strong>. We have been stuck in Step 3 since April because they deny us the right to go to arbitration until a new contract is in place.<\/li><li><em>On July 1<\/em> &#8211; They <strong>blocked any salary raises <\/strong>until a new contract was ratified &#8211; some raises who had been planned by PIs back in February!<\/li><li><em>In August<\/em> &#8211; Now they are telling <strong>some ARSs they have to choose either to stay in the union<\/strong> or continue co-mentoring postdocs.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\ud83c\udf00\ud83d\udcdd\ud83c\udf00 We have <strong>compromised<\/strong>, we have<strong> reasoned<\/strong>, we have backed up our contract demands with <strong>research, logic and clear examples<\/strong>\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>CU Admin keeps stalling discussions about economics while rushing us to make further compromises.<\/li><li><strong>By voting YES<\/strong> for the strike authorization, we send a strong message to CU Admin that<strong> we are united to take collective action, that we deserve more and should be treated with respect based on the value of our contributions to Columbia University<\/strong>.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong>As postdocs and researchers in the <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.latimes.com\/california\/story\/2022-11-29\/uc-strike-postdocs-researchers-reach-tentative-deal-but-will-honor-pickets\"><strong>University of California<\/strong><\/a><strong> and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.seattletimes.com\/seattle-news\/uw-researchers-engineers-postdocs-ratify-contracts-end-strike\/\"><strong>University of Washington<\/strong><\/a><strong> have done, and as <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nycclc.org\/news\/2023-08\/nyc-postdoc-power-two-uaw-postdoctoral-researcher-units-begin-strike-authorization\"><strong>our colleagues at Mt Sinai will be doing this Thursday<\/strong><\/a><strong>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\">\ud83d\udca5We are voting Yes in our Strike Authorization Vote\ud83d\udca5<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/sav\/\">Click here to cast your ballot!<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Your vote matters! Your voice counts, and together, we can advocate for better conditions and a fair agreement that addresses our needs.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"444\" height=\"591\" src=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PXL_20230726_214812297.PORTRAIT.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-6978\" srcset=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PXL_20230726_214812297.PORTRAIT.png 444w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PXL_20230726_214812297.PORTRAIT-225x300.png 225w, https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/PXL_20230726_214812297.PORTRAIT-300x400.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 444px) 100vw, 444px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>Best,<br>Your Friendly Neighborhood Bargaining &amp; Organizing Committees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSf9JvAm0HV3KEY74w8V7lNcckyMBUf6MRjal1uF4KNz6gHFOQ\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\">RSVP to Join the Next Bargaining Sessions<\/a>&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Follow our next emails with updates on future steps!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/contract-campaing\/contract-center\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read the full report from previous bargaining sessions<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Reach out to us to get involved!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Follow us on social media! (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cpw_uaw\/\">IG<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CPWUAW\">Twitter<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSc5Z9aAGqDNZU8kNN5cTruS8e9EG_YL_mRUkLhhpjUnPjISlg\/viewform\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Slack<\/a>)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\">Share this info with your friends and colleagues!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/spreadsheets\/d\/1HW3PkjZmIYoA0f78Op2wFTlb6s_vy4c-QYaKkior98w\/edit?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CHECK THE BARGAINING ARTICLE TRACKER<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-heading\"><em><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/contact-us\/cpw-uaw-workplace-issue-form\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HAVE AN ISSUE? GET IN CONTACT!<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>Want to stay informed? Check out <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/\"><strong><em>our website<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em> and follow us on <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/CPWUAW\"><strong><em>Twitter<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/cpw_uaw\/\"><strong><em>Instagram<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tiktok.com\/@columbiapostdocworkers\"><strong><em>TikTok<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/ColumbiaPostdocUnion\"><strong><em>Facebook<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>, <\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>and join our and <\/em><\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/forms.gle\/BdMzRa7RA8sXMZui6\"><strong><em>Slack<\/em><\/strong><\/a><strong><em>\u200b.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We are voting YES to authorize a strike if it becomes necessary to win a fair agreement.&nbsp; Click here to cast your ballot!&nbsp;&nbsp; A recap on why we think this is best course of action: \ud83c\udfc3\ud83d\udca8 \ud83c\udfc3\u23f1\ufe0f \ud83e\udd0f\ud83d\udcb8 \ud83e\udd0fOn June<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":433,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6977"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6977"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6977\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6979,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6977\/revisions\/6979"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6977"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6977"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/columbiapostdocunion.org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6977"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}