While the law is unambiguous, the Columbia administration has continued to obstruct organizing efforts using an array of typical union-busting methods. In 2016, when the NLRB held a formal vote, the university’s anti-union campaign led to more than six hundred workers filing contested ballots. In 2017, the university attempted to overturn the one-sided election results — 1,602 yes votes and 623 no votes in support of unionizing — by hiring a team of anti-union lawyers. Although these tactics failed and GWC-UAW Local 2110 was certified as a union by the NLRB in December 2017, the university continued its hostile crusade and ignored repeated requests to come to the bargaining table.
Columbia Graduate Workers Are on Strike. Other Higher-Ed Workers Should Follow Their Lead.
