On Wednesday, June 3, the University and the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) met for a fifteenth bargaining session, in person at the Interchurch Center, to continue negotiations toward a successor contract. There was minor movement on topics that would be seen as uncontroversial in most other successor labor contract negotiations, but, once again, no progress was made on the substantial issues left to be resolved.
During the session, the University put forward a revised counterproposal on Professional Development, to which the union later responded with a further counterproposal. SWC additionally presented revised proposals to replace its own prior proposals on Vacation, Leaves of Absence, and Workspace and Materials.
Additionally, SWC withdrew its prior proposals on Research Integrity, Travel, Transportation, and Copyright and Intellectual Property. The union stated that it would add elements of its withdrawn Copyright and Intellectual Property demands into an updated proposal on another topic.
The union accepted the University’s latest proposed articles on Holidays and Union Management Committee. Nonetheless, the University and SWC remain far apart on all other remaining major issues.
As previously agreed, the parties will meet next on June 16, in person at Interchurch. SWC expressed interest in further in-person bargaining sessions over the summer, and the University will identify additional available dates.
The University remains committed to reaching a fair, competitive, and sustainable agreement with SWC that benefits all of our student employees and the entire Columbia community.
