In 2022 and 2023, RAs at Barnard and Columbia made history by becoming only the eighth and ninth RA unions in the country. This semester, current and former members of the Barnard RA Union and CURA Collective sat down with Bwog to tell the story of their eventful first years.

Less than 24 hours before CPW was set to begin its strike, the union announced it had ratified a new, satisfactory contract with the University.

After months of bargaining sessions with the University, the union for postdoctoral and associate researchers says it plans to strike on November 1 if its demands are not met by then. 

The union hopes to settle a contract with the college that provides equitable compensation for all RAs, particularly those who receive financial aid.

After winning its union election with a 95% “yes” vote, the Columbia University Resident Advisor Collective has officially become a legally-recognized independent union, the first RA union of its kind in the United States.

On Monday, RAs and their supporters rallied on Low Steps before marching to President Bollinger’s house to gain recognition for a Columbia RA union.

Barnard decided not to voluntarily recognize the Barnard RA Union in a meeting on Thursday, October 13, following a petition, rally, and over 800 emails of support.

On Friday afternoon, members of Barnard’s newly-formed Resident Assistants Union (OPEIU Local 153) rallied outside Barnard Hall to highlight unfair working conditions and demand voluntary recognition.

After months of organizing, Barnard College Resident Assistants announced today that they have filed for union recognition with OPEIU Local 153, and demanded voluntary recognition from President Beilock.

After organizing throughout the spring and summer to demand changes to their compensation, Resident Advisers at CC and SEAS will now receive a different pay structure for the 2022-23 academic year, thanks to a new policy change.

Columbia’s Resident Advisors, the student workers at the center of undergraduate residential life, report dissatisfaction with the job’s pay structure and level of communication. In the wake of Barnard RAs’ collective action, RAs at Columbia make plans to continue organizing over the summer.

Earlier this week, Deputy Editor Lillian Rountree and Deputy News Editor Paulina Rodriguez sat down with members of the bargaining committee for the Barnard Contingent Faculty Union (BCF-UAW) to talk about their union, its impact on campus, and labor on campus more broadly.

Over 96% of respondents to the ratification vote agreed to cement the Tentative Agreement, resulting in the first contract between the SWC and Columbia.

Due to the interruption of Core classes by the SWC-UAW strike, University Writing sections will now require additional instruction and coursework, to be completed after the Spring 2022 semester.

On Friday, the Student Workers of Columbia announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the University on a four-year contract, bringing an end to its 10-week strike.