Student workers lead rank-and-file revolt at Columbia University

Back in the spring, we spoke with three graduate student workers at Columbia University who were on strike with the Student Workers of Columbia union, UAW Local 2110. After rank-and-file members rejected the tentative agreement between the university and the bargaining committee, negotiations continued. However, Columbia has still failed to meet key demands, including better wages, dental and vision healthcare coverage, and third-party arbitration for cases involving harassment and discrimination. Now, Student Workers of Columbia are back on strike and have been on the picket line since Nov. 3. In this mini-cast, we talk with three graduate student workers, Joanna Lee, Tamara Hache, and Caroline Smith, about the current strike and how academic workers are an essential part of the labor movement.<br /><br />Additional links/info below...<br /><br />Student Workers of Columbia, UAW Local 2110 website, Facebook page, and Twitter page:<br /><a href="https://www.studentworkersofcolumbia.com/" rel="noopener">https://www.studentworkersofcolumbia.com/</a><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/swcuaw" rel="noopener">https://www.facebook.com/swcuaw</a><br /><a href="https://twitter.com/SW_Columbia" rel="noopener">https://twitter.com/SW_Columbia</a><br />Hardship Fund for Columbia Student Workers #CUonStrike: <a href="https://opencollective.com/student-workers-of-columbia/projects/withheld-stipends" rel="noopener">https://opencollective.com/student-workers-of-columbia/projects/withheld-stipends</a><br />Working People, "Mini-cast: Columbia Is a Bully (w/ Joanna Lee, Harlan Chambers, & Cameron Foltz)": <a href="https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93b3JraW5ncGVvcGxlLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz/episode/NjgwY2MzZmUtZjY5Yy00YjcxLTg2YTMtYmVmMThmMGRkNzRh?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiwxtOpi7_0AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCg&hl=en" rel="noopener">https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93b3JraW5ncGVvcGxlLmxpYnN5bi5jb20vcnNz/episode/NjgwY2MzZmUtZjY5Yy00YjcxLTg2YTMtYmVmMThmMGRkNzRh?sa=X&ved=0CAUQkfYCahcKEwiwxtOpi7_0AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQCg&hl=en</a><br /