Bargaining Session 5
On Friday, January 23, the University and the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) met for the fifth time, in-person at Interchurch Center, to negotiate the terms of a successor contract. While many topics were discussed and proposed contract language exchanged, the parties remain far apart on virtually all issues, even those on which the University thought the parties had been close to finding common ground.
The union continues to press demands on non-employment subjects outside the scope of collective bargaining and that would infringe on the University’s core management of academic and institutional operations. Indeed, during this session, SWC expressly repudiated the 2018 Framework Agreement between the union and the University, which set preconditional principles for union recognition and bargaining by distinguishing between employment matters that are subject to negotiation and academic matters that are not. SWC asserted that this foundational agreement that preserves University authority over academic decision-making holds no relevance to these negotiations.
During the meeting, the parties continued discussions on various topics raised in prior sessions, with the University offering further revised articles in response to SWC’s counterproposals on Grievance and Arbitration, Non-Discrimination, International Student Employees and Tax Assistance, and Health and Safety. The parties also discussed once again the University’s previously-announced commitment to provide and increase the Support Funds for out-of-pocket health expenses for the 2025-2026 academic year while contract negotiations continue.
SWC also shared its first Compensation proposal, in response to compensation proposals the University first made on June 9, 2025, and the University’s October 2025 increases to compensation and stipends for the 2025-2026 academic year. There was extensive discussion on compensation, as well as continued focus by the union on its demands addressing International Student Employees, Grievance and Arbitration, and Non-Discrimination introduced at prior bargaining sessions.
SWC’s economic demands remain far out of line with benefits available to student employees at peer universities, as well as to other union and non-union Columbia employees.
The parties met for the full scheduled session and, as previously agreed, will meet again, in person, on February 11 and 27 at Interchurch.
The University remains committed to negotiating a fair, competitive, and sustainable agreement with SWC that benefits all of our student employees and the entire Columbia community.