On March 28, 2025, representatives of the University met with representatives of the Student Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers, Local 2710 (SWC) to begin collective bargaining on a successor agreement to their first contract, which expires on June 30, 2025. The University seeks to build on the foundation of the first agreement reached with the SWC in January 2022, which was overwhelmingly ratified by the SWC membership.
The University came prepared for each side to set out its opening goals and interests for the negotiations, discuss scheduling and logistics, and present opening contract provision proposals. As the University agreed in advance, 80+ union observers beyond the 12 members of the SWC’s designated bargaining committee were permitted to attend the session (until the room reached its capacity of 100 people), and additional observers were provided an overflow room until capacity became available.
The SWC presented a proposal for streaming/video broadcasting (e.g., via Zoom) of all bargaining sessions and insisted that its proposal be taken up first. The University engaged in discussion related to the union’s proposal and extended arrangements to accommodate the union’s stated needs and interests, including making available a caucus room for the SWC’s membership with Zoom capacity. The SWC refused to engage in any discussions without streaming/broadcasting – including about the threshold matter of whether streaming/broadcasting would be allowed – and many of the union observers in the room persisted in video streaming the proceedings. With the SWC unwilling to engage in meaningful or productive discussion of their proposal, the University provided a written response reiterating its desire to immediately engage in productive negotiations over a successor agreement, and how we can do so together. The bargaining session ended at the scheduled time.
The University remains ready and eager to engage in productive negotiations with the SWC on the workplace matters and terms and conditions of employment that affect all student employees. We recognize the significant contributions our student employees make to advancing our teaching and research mission, and we are committed to achieving a timely, fair, competitive, and responsible contract that supports both the needs of our student employees and the entire Columbia community.
