The university blinked and finally agreed to bargain so I am just sitting here staring at my screen in total shock because I really thought they would drag this out forever. All 114 of us actually did it and now we just have to make sure they follow through on …
February 18, 2018
Final supporters
As faculty working at Columbia University, we fully support the Columbia graduate workers’ unionization efforts and contest the University’s repeated and now unlawful opposition. We are shocked by the bad faith of the Provost’s letter of January 30, 2018 and its willful misrepresentation of the graduate students’ efforts and goals. It is not the UAW, as he suggests, but the students who seek to unionize Columbia student workers. We understand that unionization is not about higher compensation and improved benefits, as the Provost states, but about professional identity and solidarity, the dignity of work and the recognition of workers’ rights. We do not expect unionization to damage our working or academic relationship with graduate students. On the contrary, the faculty-student relationship we aim for and value is one that respects graduate students both as our students and as fellow teachers and university employees who are treated fairly by the institution. As fellow employees of this university, we stand in solidarity with our students and demand that the university follow the law and bargain now.
Sincerely,
Updates
February 5, 2018
I really thought this might just float around in the digital ether forever but seeing the list grow is honestly kind of surreal. It says a lot about how people actually feel about these relationships on campus even if the official messaging stays so rigid.
Reached 100 supporters
February 5, 2018
53 Comments
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine I support the right of graduate students at Columbia to unionize and negotiate their benefits and contract. I don't believe that unionization will reduce the relationship of graduate students to the faculty that instruct them to "ordinary terms of employment," as the Provost has argued.
The administration is totally out of touch here. Our students do the heavy lifting and deserve a seat at the table. Bargain with them already.
Freedom of association is protected by the Bill of Rights. Dignity--please dignify the graduates' vote and give them the respect they deserve. They are on the threshold of becoming our colleagues.
I was an adjunct at NYU for nine years, and saw first-hand that unionization doesn't have to interfere with the university's mission or activities. Columbia should do the right thing by its workers and graduate students.
Associate Professor English and Comparative Literature Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies
Geochemistry
Ritt Assistant Professor, Mathematics Dept
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The university blinked and finally agreed to bargain so I am just sitting here staring at my screen in total shock because I really thought they would drag this out forever. All 114 of us actually did it and now we just have to make sure they follow through on …
February 18, 2018
Final supporters
As faculty working at Columbia University, we fully support the Columbia graduate workers’ unionization efforts and contest the University’s repeated and now unlawful opposition. We are shocked by the bad faith of the Provost’s letter of January 30, 2018 and its willful misrepresentation of the graduate students’ efforts and goals. It is not the UAW, as he suggests, but the students who seek to unionize Columbia student workers. We understand that unionization is not about higher compensation and improved benefits, as the Provost states, but about professional identity and solidarity, the dignity of work and the recognition of workers’ rights. We do not expect unionization to damage our working or academic relationship with graduate students. On the contrary, the faculty-student relationship we aim for and value is one that respects graduate students both as our students and as fellow teachers and university employees who are treated fairly by the institution. As fellow employees of this university, we stand in solidarity with our students and demand that the university follow the law and bargain now.
Sincerely,
Updates
February 5, 2018
I really thought this might just float around in the digital ether forever but seeing the list grow is honestly kind of surreal. It says a lot about how people actually feel about these relationships on campus even if the official messaging stays so rigid.
Reached 100 supporters
February 5, 2018
53 Comments
PGI/Lamont Research Professor I strongly support the right of grad students at Columbia to unionize. They have a right to act collectively to negotiate with the University, improve their work conditions, benefits, etc. and address grievances. The ability to associate freely to advance shared interests and address shared concerns is a fundamental feature of democracy that has been fought for over decades. It is deeply ironic that Columbia, which presents itself as a beacon of reason, knowledge, enlightenment and tolerance would act to undermine a basic tenet of democracy. Columbia should recognize the union and negotiate in good faith.
Associate Professor, Department of Medicine I support the right of graduate students at Columbia to unionize and negotiate their benefits and contract. I don't believe that unionization will reduce the relationship of graduate students to the faculty that instruct them to "ordinary terms of employment," as the Provost has argued.
The administration is totally out of touch here. Our students do the heavy lifting and deserve a seat at the table. Bargain with them already.
Freedom of association is protected by the Bill of Rights. Dignity--please dignify the graduates' vote and give them the respect they deserve. They are on the threshold of becoming our colleagues.
I was an adjunct at NYU for nine years, and saw first-hand that unionization doesn't have to interfere with the university's mission or activities. Columbia should do the right thing by its workers and graduate students.
Associate Professor English and Comparative Literature Middle Eastern, South Asian, and African Studies
Geochemistry
Ritt Assistant Professor, Mathematics Dept
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PGI/Lamont Research Professor I strongly support the right of grad students at Columbia to unionize. They have a right to act collectively to negotiate with the University, improve their work conditions, benefits, etc. and address grievances. The ability to associate freely to advance shared interests and address shared concerns is a fundamental feature of democracy that has been fought for over decades. It is deeply ironic that Columbia, which presents itself as a beacon of reason, knowledge, enlightenment and tolerance would act to undermine a basic tenet of democracy. Columbia should recognize the union and negotiate in good faith.