After months of negotiations with the College, the Barnard Resident Assistants Union has officially ratified its first contract.

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.

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.

On Saturday, December 17, the CURA Collective announced via Instagram that they have received a $1,000 raise for Columbia’s Resident Advisors.

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.