The tentative agreement reached between Columbia and the Graduate Workers of Columbia–United Auto Workers’ bargaining committee failed to pass on April 30. Student-workers voted 1,093-970 with 63-percent participation to continue negotiating, a process that will likely require further mobilization throughout the summer and fall semesters.
Student-workers say that the contract fell short on unit recognition; compensation; health care; and access to third-party, neutral arbitration for discrimination and harassment cases. However, the no-vote was also considered a signal to the union’s current leadership. Complaints over the democracy of the bargaining committee have been simmering for years, but the process leading to this contract’s presentation has student-workers rejecting not only the contract, but their own union’s configuration.