Important Update on SWC Negotiations from Columbia University Human Resources
A Message From Columbia University Human Resources
As you may have seen, the Student Workers of Columbia union (SWC) has announced that it has received authorization from its members to call a strike after holding a strike authorization vote. To be clear, no strike has been called at this time. Nevertheless, we know that the prospect of a strike may create uncertainty for our campus community, so we want to clarify what this means and communicate additional important information.
A strike authorization vote is not the same as a vote to strike and does not guarantee that the union will strike. Rather, it is a procedural step that gives SWC’s leadership the authority to call a strike at a future date in the event its leadership decides to do so.
We do not anticipate any disruption to regular academic schedules or activities as a result of this vote. At the same time, the University is committed to ensuring that academic operations continue should SWC decide to strike, and we have measures in place to minimize any disruption to teaching, learning, and research to the greatest extent possible. More information about those plans will be shared should it become necessary.
We are disappointed that SWC has already chosen to hold a strike authorization vote after participating in only a limited number of bargaining sessions over the past year and continuing to focus during negotiations on non-employment subjects outside the scope of collective bargaining. Columbia met with SWC 73 times before the union decided to strike in 2021, compared to only six bargaining sessions before SWC opened this vote. It is also worth noting that SWC has indicated that 1,129 individuals voted for strike authorization, out of 1,234 total votes cast, both of which are less than half of the more than 3,000 people SWC says it represents. SWC’s last two strike authorization votes garnered hundreds more “yes” votes (1,804 out of 2,038 total votes cast in 2021, and 1,833 out of 1,910 total votes cast in 2020), and, beyond our own context, this result suggests a far lower level of assent among a bargaining unit than is typical in authorizing a strike.
Both SWC and the University have agreed to future bargaining sessions, including a previously agreed meeting on March 20, and we are hopeful that SWC will refocus its efforts on making progress at the bargaining table. We remain committed to working constructively with SWC toward a fair, competitive, and sustainable successor contract that serves all student employees and the broader Columbia community. The University has suggested more than once engaging an independent mediator to help facilitate that result and would welcome the union’s willingness to pursue that approach.
Additional updates and information are available under the Current Negotiations tab of the Student Benefits website, including answers to Frequently Asked Questions.