Columbia Postdoctoral Workers

09/12/2023

On September 07, Columbia postdocs and associate researchers are demonstrating in front of the business school where our president is attending a talk on inflation! We are demanding admin address inflation not just academically - but also in our contract!

‘Hey Columbia, here’s your choice support your researchers or hear our voice!’

What do we want - a contract!
When do we want it a now!

The latest compensation offer that administration has put on the table is a real terms pay cut when considering inflation. This is unacceptable to our membership - as they made clear in our recent strike authorization vote - it’s now on Columbia to make a fair contract offer!

09/06/2023

This Thursday 9/7 at 4:30pm we have an opportunity to push

to resolve our contract before a strike begins, by offering institutional support against the inflation which has swallowed up our wages. Join us and swveral othwr union groups from around campus!

08/28/2023

🚨 We are excited to report that out of the almost 1000 postdocs and research scientists that cast a ballot in our historic strike authorization vote, 98% of members voted YES ✊🏽🔥

Stay tuned for updates on our campaign as we take collective action to achieve a strong contract.

✍️ Moreover, over 130 new workers have signed a membership card to officially join our union since bargaining started, greatly building our power ⚡️

Haven’t signed yet? LINK IN BIO!

08/24/2023

Memo to Columbia administration: stop saying "postdoc shortage" and try "living wage shortage", “childcare shortage", “affordable housing shortage" or "affordable healthcare shortage"
The vote will close today at 11:59pm
Join the hundreds of postdocs/ARSs around Columbia who have already made their voice heard
VOTE NOW!

08/21/2023

The vote will close on Thursday, August 24 at 11:59pm (midnight)
Join the hundreds of postdocs/ARSs around Columbia who have already made their voice heard
VOTE NOW!

08/14/2023

More and more members are voting YES for our Strike Authorization Vote because they believe the administration can do better and that WE deserve better .

08/14/2023

Hundreds of people have already voted. Join them and vote YES for the Strike Authorization Vote, and support our bargaining team in negotiating the best contract possible.

08/10/2023

Join hundreds of people who already voted and Vote yes for our strike Authorization Vote.

06/25/2023

06/16/2023

during our last bargaining session: “To hear from our union that during a previous bargaining session two representatives of Columbia said “I don’t think market is 90K for someone who comes in at zero experience” or that “we need to budget”, is not only insulting but also hurtful. How did I have zero experience? By the time I was a postdoc I had almost 9 years of research experience, 3 as an undergraduate and 6 as a PhD student. Respectfully, my problems are because I like all the other postdocs at Columbia are not being fairly compensated for our work and advanced degrees. I am one of the many postdocs here and we are hard workers that make up the backbone of academic research that Columbia University likes to pride themselves in.

There is a crisis in recruiting postdocs, form the NIH to faculty complaining on twitter, the scientific community knows that newly minted PhDs do not see postdocs as a viable path. Other Universities and research institutions including Yale, HHMI, Saint Jude’s, MIT, Harvard and Princeton have all indicated that they are planning to or have raised salaries for postdocs in order to remain competitive. So, I ask does Columbia want to remain competitive or slowly lose postdocs from an ever-shrinking pool of candidates?

The Columbia Administration can take concrete steps to address these issues. First Columbia can put forth a new salary minimum that would allow postdocs to no longer be considered low income in NYC. There is no excuse that one of the premier research institutions in the world should be paying its postdocs who have advanced degrees below a living wage for where they work. Second The Columbia Administration can offer yearly housing credits directly to postdocs to relieve some of the pressure that rents and apartment costs can incur. Both changes would not only dramatically improve my situation but all the postdocs at Columbia University and show the world that Columbia is willing to lead on these issues not follow. I am asking the members of the Columbia Administration to do the right thing and give postdocs an economic offer that is in line with what we are worth”

06/08/2023

Happy ! Last Sunday we were out in the Queens festival talking to folks about our fight for a fair contract that protects and enhances diversity and inclusion . You want to add your name? Link in bio!

06/04/2023

During Pride Month 🏳️‍🌈, we want to underline the importance of a workspace that embraces and supports Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

We must fight for a society that promotes fairness, equality, and respect for all individuals. It allows for a richer exchange of ideas, perspectives, and experiences, leading to greater creativity, innovation, with equal opportunities for individuals to thrive, regardless of their background.

At Columbia University, our Union is actively striving to secure contract language that fosters diversity, inclusion, and a strong dedication to creating a future where individuals can work genuinely, without facing discrimination. We believe that there’s much more that can be done by CU Admin to help build an inclusive workplace and help current and future faculty thrive.

The underrepresentation of tenured women and overrepresentation of tenured white individuals in Universities can be attributed to a complex interplay of historical, social, and systemic factors. Discrimination and gender stereotypes have influenced hiring practices, promotion decisions, and the overall culture within Academia, perpetuating imbalances at higher levels. Additional factors include the challenges faced by women in balancing career and family responsibilities, as well as implicit biases that may affect the evaluation and recognition of women's work.
Efforts need to be made to address these disparities through initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion, such as mentorship programs, targeted recruitment strategies, policies and contract language aimed at eliminating bias in evaluation and promotion processes. By addressing these systemic barriers and fostering an inclusive and supportive environment, universities can work towards achieving equality, dismantling systemic barriers, combating biases, and creating equal opportunities for individuals.

By joining forces, we can build a workplace that is more welcoming and supportive for everyone.

Sign our petition to ensure that CU Admin agrees to contract language that supports diversity. Link in bio