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Grad workers on strike at the Columbia University campus in New York, USA – 16 March, 2021. Photo by Rommel Nunez
I remember the first time I attended a general meeting of our union bargaining unit Graduate Workers of Columbia (GWC) back in 2016. The small hall inside Columbia University’s Casa Hispanica was overflowing with members, while the meeting was carefully managed by union staff and volunteer organizers. The presentation had the feel of a TEDx event, with a question and answer session at the end, but no democratic space for free deliberation and discussion.
Coming from social movement spaces in South Africa, I was confused why such meetings were controlled information sessions, rather than facilitated engagements where everyone’s viewpoint was taken into account.
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Graduate Workers Union announces intention to strike on March 15
Graduate Workers Union announces intention to strike on March 15 Princeton Huang / Staff Photographer The union plans to stop teaching classes and conducting research until members successfully negotiate with Columbia for their first labor contract. By Talia Abrahamson | February 26, 2021, 2:03 AM
Standing on the steps of Low Library, graduate and undergraduate student workers of the Graduate Workers of Columbia-United Auto Workers announced on Thursday their intention to strike on March 15. Union members plan to stop teaching classes and conducting research until they successfully negotiate with Columbia for their first labor contract.
Student-workers of GWC voted 1,833 to 77 last March to authorize the strike. The union’s ten-person bargaining committee, which is made up of elected representatives who represent each jurisdiction of the unit, called the strike. For the past two weeks, the bargaining commi