Bargaining Session 7

On Friday, February 27, the University and the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) met for the seventh time, in person at the Interchurch Center, to negotiate the terms of the union’s successor contract. Most of the discussion centered around the parties’ respective proposals concerning the International Student Employees article. The parties remain far apart on virtually all issues. 

During the session, SWC presented a new counterproposal on International Student Employees, which for the most part was substantively identical to the union’s prior proposal on the topic. Following a caucus break, the University presented a new counterproposal on International Student Employees that moved a measure toward the union’s position. Much of the rest of the session consisted of discussion of these proposals. 

The discussion made clear that SWC continues to consider the Framework Agreement, and its critical distinction between bargainable employment matters and academic and operational matters that must remain under the University and faculty’s control, inapplicable to these negotiations. This fundamental disagreement over the appropriate scope of collective bargaining – which represents a significant change in SWC’s position since negotiations for the last contract – continues to be a significant obstacle to progress in reaching a successor agreement. 

SWC waited until the closing minutes of the session to put forward 18 additional contract proposals and counterproposals, so they were not able to be discussed. These proposals covered a wide range of topics, many of which are typically raised at the outset of contract negotiations. Others are new articles on topics that are not legally required subjects of bargaining.  

As previously agreed, the parties will meet again on March 9 and 20, 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.