On Monday, October 19, the University and the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) met for a twenty-second bargaining session, in person at the Interchurch Center, to continue negotiating the terms of a successor contract.
During the session, the parties exchanged further counterproposals on Union Activity/Access, and SWC presented revised counterproposals on Child Care and Compensation and a revised proposal on Appointments, reflecting very limited movement from the union’s prior positions. The union’s latest proposals continue to include elements outside the legally required scope of collective bargaining that would encroach upon the University’s decision-making authority on academic and operational matters in a manner inconsistent with the Framework Agreement and the Management and Academic Rights provisions in the first contract. The parties discussed these topics, but remain far apart on virtually all major elements of a labor contract. SWC also said it was still considering, but was not prepared to conclude tentative agreements on, language concerning a number of routine non-economic topics that are typically not substantially renegotiated in a successor contract.
The University and SWC will meet next for continued bargaining on November 10, in person at Interchurch.
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.
