Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 5h

While marching to deliver our demands we discovered that CU had lied -- again.

The large conferences rooms that would accomodate all our colleagues who want to see the union bargain on their behalf were empty.

CU had insisted that the rooms were "not available" to hide from our members.

1

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 5h

After marching on the boss to deliver our demands, Columbia gave us the 3% raises they had been withholding. Of course, we are fighting for so much more. Read more about Columbia’s refusal to bargain with us here:

www.studentworkersofcolumbia.com/updates/oct-...

1 2

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 1d

"The unfortunate reality is that graduate workers have to defend ourselves not only from Trump, but also from administrators, who would rather cut education and research than reconsider executive bloat."

Public Books @publicbooks.bsky.social · 1d

“Many graduate student workers are concerned that university administrators will respond to the attacks on higher education by passing the hardship on to their workers.”

Our Right to Our Union: Graduate Student Workers Under Threat - Public Books

University leaders may make a show of opposing Trump when funding is under threat, but they will happily align themselves with him in confronting graduate student workers.

www.publicbooks.org

1 2

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 1d

Our members will be meeting this week to make a collective action plan to win our demands! Get ready, Columbia 😉

3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 1d

We marched to see the University's HR & lawyers and handed them the articles we want to see in a new contract.

Our membership demands that the University open the gates and get cops off our campus, protect its non-citizen workers, and offer speedy resolutions for contract violations!

Our members speaking to Dan Driscoll, a Vice-Presidence and head of Human Resources at Columbia University

1 3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 1d

During our caucus, our bargaining team called the University to ask why they refused to meet us at the agreed unpon time.

No answer.

Bargaining committee members sitting at a table

1 2

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 1d

Yet again, Columbia University refused to bargain with its student workers. Yesterday we caucused together at Trinity Lutheran Church, while the University bargaining team sat in their small room afraid to face us.

Union members smiling and raising their left fists in Trinity Lutheran Church of Manhattan

1 3 8

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

jon ben-menachem @jbenmenachem.com · 1d

Eager to undermine the bargaining process, the university has now graciously announced a “raise” in stipends that amounts to… a 0.1% increase after inflation

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 3d

Columbia canceled bargaining, again.

We are still gathering at Trinity Lutheran Church on Monday. Our demands are commonsense: protection for non-citizens, no cops or surveillance on campus, and fast resolution for contract violations.

Columbia, will you meet us?

1 13 31

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 3d

Now, CU demands to meet only our bargaining team in a "non-bargaining" meeting. Email and call CU head of labor relations Linda Eisner at [email protected] and +1 212 854 9557. Tell her to face her workers on October 6th @ 11AM.

1 4

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 3d

We quickly secured a space near campus large enough for our observers. Late on Friday, CU refused to attend the session, claiming that Trinity Lutheran Church is not “an appropriate place.” Bargaining across industries routinely occurs in faith-based spaces.

1 1 4

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 3d

The members of SWC are eager to ink a new contract. As a sign of good faith, we agreed to meet with only in-person observers. After we mutually confirmed our availability on October 6th at 11AM, Columbia insisted we meet them in a 20-person room that hardly seats both teams.

1 3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 3d

Columbia canceled bargaining, again.

We are still gathering at Trinity Lutheran Church on Monday. Our demands are commonsense: protection for non-citizens, no cops or surveillance on campus, and fast resolution for contract violations.

Columbia, will you meet us?

1 4 19

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Knight First Amendment Institute @knightcolumbia.org · 8d

⬇️ NEWS: “This is a historic ruling that should have immediate implications for the Trump administration’s policies. If the First Amendment means anything, it means the government can’t imprison people simply because it disagrees with their political views."
knightcolumbia.org/content/in-l...

In Landmark Ruling, Federal Court Says Trump Administration Violated First Amendment By Deporting Foreign Citizens for Pro-Palestinian Advocacy

knightcolumbia.org

1 48 87

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Karl Jacoby @karl-jacoby.bsky.social · 9d

Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Khalil outside Columbia’s (locked) gates on the eve of their possible deportation

7 140 580

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 10d

Credits! Caricature of Koch brothers by DonkeyHotey, used under Creative Commons BY 2.0. license. The original background of a US map was removed. Original art: flickr.com/photos/donke...

5/5

Charles and David Koch - The Koch Brothers

Charles de Ganahl Koch and David Hamilton Koch are the notorious Koch Bothers. The brothers own Koch Industries and are major benefactors for organizations and candidates involved in pushing radical R...

flickr.com

1 1

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 10d

SWC remains focused on meeting with the university to bargain and win a contract that improves the lives of the workers we represent. Together, we can win a better university!

Learn more about so-called “right to work”: epi.org/research/rig...

4/5

It’s time for Colorado to remove barriers to unionization: Outdated “second election” rule is rooted in anti-worker, white supremacist history

Summary: An anti-union Colorado law, passed in 1943 amid intense big business and white supremacist campaigns to block worker organizing, has suppressed unionization in the state. Resulting low and d...

epi.org

1 1 3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 10d

Higher education is one of the sectors seeing the fastest growth of unionization, and student worker unions are an obstacle to the right-wing agenda against academia.

Effective organizing attracts groups like NRTW. We must be doing something right! 😉

3/5

1 4

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 10d

The NRTW was founded in 1968 and supported by figures like the Koch brothers to undermine labor rights and fight union security clauses.

The movement has its roots in the segregationist South, where the wealthy wanted to undermine unions as venues of racial integration. 2/5

1 3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 10d

In July, the “National Right to Work Foundation” filed a ULP against the Cornell Graduate Student Union. In September, it filed a nuisance ULP against the Student Workers of Columbia.

Why is this right-wing org so obsessed with us? 🤔

Graphic with red background and caricatures of the Koch brothers. Text: What is the "National Right to Work Foundation"? Why are they going after student worker unions?" and "Koch brothers who fund NRTW"

1 3 6

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Shannan Clark @shannanclark.bsky.social · 22d

The Columbia administration's capitulation to the Trump regime has facilitated its deplorable union busting. Support @swcolumbia.bsky.social in its fight against the university's unfair labor practices.

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 22d

"Candidates have abandoned their research plans, accepted jobs at other institutions, or in one case, may leave the country entirely—potentially cutting short an academic career in the United States."

www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/09...

As Columbia slashes Ph.D. Core Curriculum teaching positions, doctoral students scramble academically and financially

<i>Updated Sept. 11 at 11:12 a.m.</i>

www.columbiaspectator.com

1 3 3

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 22d

"Candidates have abandoned their research plans, accepted jobs at other institutions, or in one case, may leave the country entirely—potentially cutting short an academic career in the United States."

www.columbiaspectator.com/news/2025/09...

As Columbia slashes Ph.D. Core Curriculum teaching positions, doctoral students scramble academically and financially

<i>Updated Sept. 11 at 11:12 a.m.</i>

www.columbiaspectator.com

1 4 3

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Lois Weiner @drloisweiner.bsky.social · Sep 4

I'd say in the exceptionally intense competition for the elite university that has been the most obeisant to Trump's agenda, Columbia University takes first place. Not content to destroy academic freedom, it goes after workers' rights. Kudos to @swcolumbia.bsky.social for standing up!

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · Sep 3

📰PRESS RELEASE: Columbia University Begins School Year by Filing an NLRB Charge that Risks Student Workers’ Right to Unionize Nationwide

Read more: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

2 7

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Caroline Luce @lucecaroline.bsky.social · Sep 4

union busting is disgusting

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · Sep 3

📰PRESS RELEASE: Columbia University Begins School Year by Filing an NLRB Charge that Risks Student Workers’ Right to Unionize Nationwide

Read more: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

2 5

Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia

Zeteo @zeteo.com · Sep 2

“Although I’ve been suspended for at least two years, I don’t regret risking my career in support of the Palestinian resistance.”

Jessie Lee Rubin, a (suspended) PhD candidate at Columbia University, explains how free speech in the US comes with a “Palestine exception.”

2 23 97

Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · Sep 3

First-day-of-class protests included a faculty press conference, a rally led by Morningside Heights Community Coalition, and a practice picket by UAW Local 2710, Student Workers of Columbia (SWC).

Contact [email protected] for press inquiries

7