On May 1, Columbia Student Union and Student Workers of Columbia held a picket line near the Sundial for May Day, commemorating the US labor rights movement. The protest advocated for workers’ rights while also covering a number of other topics including the war in Gaza, ICE detentions, and University divestment from Israel. 

On Thursday, Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) and Student Workers of Columbia (SWC) gathered in protest at the Sundial to bring attention to the recent siege of Al-Shifa Hospital and to show solidarity with the people of Gaza.

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.

Columbia’s new proposal, while showing movement towards SWC’s desires on many key issues, still does not meet the majority of the Union’s demands.

In emails sent out to students on Friday evening, the deans of CC, GS, SEAS, and Barnard outlined possible next steps for students in classes affected by the strike to receive credit for the Fall 2021 semester.

This morning, the Student Workers of Columbia began a day-long attempt to “shut down campus” as the strike continues, following a message from University administration saying that striking workers may lose their teaching appointments for the Spring 2022 semester. 

Continuing last week’s discussion about the impacts of the Student Workers of Columbia strike on undergraduate students, CCSC sends an official statement on the strike to the administration. 

On Monday, faculty gathered for a midday picket and rally while both the University and the Union expressed frustration at stagnant negotiations in the final full week of the Fall 2021 semester.

CCSC considers how to address the academic impact of the graduate student strike on undergraduate students while not “crossing the picket line.”

On Monday, the Student Workers of Columbia and the University began third-party mediation in the hopes of hastening the process of drafting a satisfactory contract agreement. Unlike in Spring 2021, the strike will continue even as mediation begins.

Provost Boyce addresses a main demand of the SWC—neutral arbitration—outlines student worker strike attestation requests, and discusses mediation in an email to students sent earlier this evening.

The Student Workers of Columbia have begun an indefinite strike as leverage for contract negotiations with the University, ceasing all labor and bringing courses to a halt.

The new offer includes multiple concessions to the SWC-UAW’s demands while falling short on others.