Bargaining Session 10

On Wednesday, April 8, the University and the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) met for their tenth bargaining session, in person at the Interchurch Center, to continue to negotiate the terms of the union's successor contract. The union was represented at various times during the session by three to five members of its bargaining committee.

During the session, SWC presented counterproposals related to Grievance and Arbitration, Holidays, Child Care, Artificial Intelligence, Non-Discrimination, and International/Non-Citizen Student Employees. There also was extensive discussion of the union’s Appointments proposal, which was introduced in the closing minutes of the February 27 session and had not yet been subject to back-and-forth discussion during a bargaining session. 

The University provided counterproposals on the Holidays, Employment Files, and Union Management Committee articles. It also offered verbal responses to the union’s proposals on Academic and Student Conduct and Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions/Obligations Under International Law, both of which SWC previously acknowledged to wholly encompass topics that are not required to be negotiated or included in a labor agreement. In addition, the University again suggested engaging an independent federal mediator to facilitate meaningful and constructive negotiations. The union was not able to provide an answer to the University’s offer.

While the parties remain far apart on virtually all issues, the University offered a verbal counterproposal to SWC’s latest proposal on Grievance and Arbitration, which appeared to move the parties closer to reaching a tentative agreement on the topic. 

The parties have agreed to meet again on April 13 and 28 and May 4 and 12, in person at the Interchurch Center. The University remains committed to reaching a fair, competitive, and sustainable agreement that benefits all of our student employees and the entire Columbia community.