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Student Workers of Columbia
@swcolumbia.bsky.social
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A Union for Instructors, TAs and Researchers at Columbia University | UAW Local 2710 | RTs ≠ endorsements. Join our community supporters' mailing list: tinyurl.com/community-supporters
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Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · Aug 8
We call on everyone who cares for the welfare of workers and the future of higher ed: DO NOT SCAB for Columbia. Sign & share our open letter: tinyurl.com/core-open-letter
Open letter to Columbia administration on replacing union instructional labor
Here is the open letter we are asking our allies in higher education to sign on to. We will periodically update signatories in the document. It would be very helpful to us if you can provide your ful...
tinyurl.com
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
sbworkersunited.org
BREAKING: Dozens of Starbucks baristas & hundreds of allies are demonstrating at Starbucks’ largest regional distribution center in the country in York, PA.

Workers are escalating their ULP strike RIGHT NOW to shine a light on how Starbucks is failing partners at every level.
November 19, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
sbworkersunited.org
"As of now, our union, Starbucks Workers United, has the facility under a full blockade."

Starbucks worker Silvia lays out the ULP strike escalation at Starbucks' York regional distribution center #NoContractNoCoffee
November 19, 2025 at 6:21 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
Join the first ever demonstration cosponsored by a coalition of on-campus and community orgs to protest Columbia’s recent policies: ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!

We demand: No more arbitrary rule changes, reopen the gates, and stop the surveillance!

Thur Nov 20 @ noon. Sundial & Bway gate
RALLY AGAINST REPRESSION THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20 12PM @ THE SUNDIAL Logos of Barnard AAUP, Columbia Student Union, CU Tenants Union, Native American Council, Students for the Democratic Society, Student Workers of Columbia, Sunrise Columbia. Background image is a photograph of 1968 protest at Columbia.
November 19, 2025 at 5:42 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
"We know the University would collapse without you. You’re the ones making sure homework is graded and uploaded, preventing panicked students from descending into a total crashout."

Thank you Spectrum 🥹💗

www.columbiaspectator.com/spectrum/202...
Love letter to teaching assistants - Columbia Spectator
To the lovely teaching assistants:
www.columbiaspectator.com
November 19, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
alexzucker.bsky.social
"After half a decade of organizing, nearly 1,000 workers at the Metropolitan Museum of Art told mgmt that they want a chance to form a union."

Someone's been reading their McAlevey: "We didn't want to petition before we were sure we had a supermajority of support" ✊

hellgatenyc.com/met-union-nl...
Workers of the Met, Unite
Plus more news for your Tuesday morning.
hellgatenyc.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
sbworkersunited.org
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.

Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Don't Buy Starbucks! At any location, today and beyond, while workers are on ULP strike!
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
goodbyealma.bsky.social
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.

I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
maxtani.bsky.social max tani @maxtani.bsky.social · 13d
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
melissagiragrant.com
Four union media workers were fired, in violation of their rights at work—that is a canary for all of us in this business. If we lose power at work, trust me it’s not any easier to hold anyone with political power to account.
condeunion.bsky.social Condé Union @condeunion.bsky.social · 13d
Breaking News: Late last night Conde Nast illegally fired 4 union organizers who asked company execs to explain the downsizing of Teen Vogue and continued layoffs. We’ve filed a grievance.
Statement from The NewsGuild of New York and Condé United on illegal firing of four union leaders who demanded answers about this week’s layoffs at Teen Vogue, other brands Late Wednesday night, Condé Nast’s VP of Labor Relations notified the Guild that the Company was immediately terminating four Condé United leaders for engaging in the protected concerted activity of gathering in their 1 World Trade Center office to demand answers on this week’s abrupt layoffs at multiple brands including WIRED and the consolidation at Teen Vogue. These egregious terminations are a flagrant breach of the Just Cause terms of our contract and an unprecedented violation of their federally protected rights as union members to participate in a collective action. Through these illegal terminations, Condé Nast management is attempting to intimidate and silence our members' advocacy for the courageous cultural and political journalism of Teen Vogue, as well as diverting attention away from the obvious lack of corporate leadership at the company. Condé United members illegally fired are: Alma Avalle: Writer, digital producer at Bon Appetit; NewsGuild of New York first vice president, trans activist, and union leader Jake Lahut: Wired senior reporter covering the Trump White House Jasper Lo: Senior fact checker at The New Yorker and US Army veteran: outgoing first vice chair of The New Yorker Union Ben Dewey: Videographer at Condé Nast Entertainment, former vice chair of the CNE unit “Management’s attempt at union-busting, using intimidation and grossly illegal tactics to try to suppress protected union activity, will not stand,” said Susan DeCarava, president of The NewsGuild of New York. “The NewsGuild of New York has zero tolerance for bad bosses who harass, target and disrespect our fellow Guild members. We represent nearly 6,000 media workers across the tri-state area and we stand firmly in solidarity, ready to fight for the rights of our members illegally fired from their jobs at …
November 6, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
maximillianalvarez.bsky.social
🚨 New @therealnews.com:

I speak w/ a panel of grad student workers & union members from Columbia University & the University of Michigan about the chilling new reality on their campuses & what it’s like to live, learn, & work there today
@swcolumbia.bsky.social

therealnews.com/campus-life-...
Campus life is unrecognizable in the Trump era: ‘There’s so many cops everywhere’
As the federal government continues its top-down assault on higher education, universities are internally building repression and surveillance machines that mirror the Trump administration.
therealnews.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
thommurphy.bsky.social
Columbia will whine and moan about being under the boot of the Trump regime but gleefully seek their aid in
SUPPRESSING UNION LABOR
swcolumbia.bsky.social Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · 21d
Columbia surveilled and threatened our members, who picketed and successfully forced Columbia to the bargaining table. The University’s union busting will not stop our members from engaging in NLRA-protected activity.

Read our press release here: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

#labor #highered
Columbia Threatens Discipline for Union Picket, Extends Repression to Labor Action Columbia surveilled and threatened Student Workers of Columbia union members engaging in protected concerted activity – flouting the NLRA and explicitly extending its suppression of free speech to labor action. NEW YORK, NY – On Friday, October 24, the University Rules Administrator Gregory Wawro sent warning letters to at least 20 members of the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC - UAW Local 2710) for participating in an October 17 practice picket on College Walk. The picketers demanded a fair contract that includes reopening the University’s campus to the public, ending Columbia Public Safety’s (PS) violent policing, and ceasing workplace surveillance. Columbia is escalating its use of disciplinary processes to quell dissent and union bust. These letters do not impose punishments, but they threaten that the University will “retain a record of this warning” to be “referenced in the event of a future Rules-related incident.” Although picketing is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, the University has begun to suppress labor rights using the same tactics developed to persecute pro-Palestine protests. The very officers who intimidated SWC picketers brutalized students protesting against the Gaza genocide earlier this year. Columbia empowered these officers to arrest protestors and increase surveillance in the University’s $200 million dollar deal with the Trump administration, even though whistleblowers revealed that PS and HR collaborated to cover up the abuse of surveillance tools. Recently, Columbia secretly tightened campus protest rules, nominally exempting protected labor activity, but threatening retaliation in practice. Columbia’s union-busting will not stop SWC from continuing to exercise its legally protected right to picket. The Union will negotiate over relevant contract articles with the University bargaining team on Friday, November 7 at 1pm …
October 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
Columbia surveilled and threatened our members, who picketed and successfully forced Columbia to the bargaining table. The University’s union busting will not stop our members from engaging in NLRA-protected activity.

Read our press release here: docs.google.com/document/d/e...

#labor #highered
Columbia Threatens Discipline for Union Picket, Extends Repression to Labor Action Columbia surveilled and threatened Student Workers of Columbia union members engaging in protected concerted activity – flouting the NLRA and explicitly extending its suppression of free speech to labor action. NEW YORK, NY – On Friday, October 24, the University Rules Administrator Gregory Wawro sent warning letters to at least 20 members of the Student Workers of Columbia (SWC - UAW Local 2710) for participating in an October 17 practice picket on College Walk. The picketers demanded a fair contract that includes reopening the University’s campus to the public, ending Columbia Public Safety’s (PS) violent policing, and ceasing workplace surveillance. Columbia is escalating its use of disciplinary processes to quell dissent and union bust. These letters do not impose punishments, but they threaten that the University will “retain a record of this warning” to be “referenced in the event of a future Rules-related incident.” Although picketing is protected under Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act, the University has begun to suppress labor rights using the same tactics developed to persecute pro-Palestine protests. The very officers who intimidated SWC picketers brutalized students protesting against the Gaza genocide earlier this year. Columbia empowered these officers to arrest protestors and increase surveillance in the University’s $200 million dollar deal with the Trump administration, even though whistleblowers revealed that PS and HR collaborated to cover up the abuse of surveillance tools. Recently, Columbia secretly tightened campus protest rules, nominally exempting protected labor activity, but threatening retaliation in practice. Columbia’s union-busting will not stop SWC from continuing to exercise its legally protected right to picket. The Union will negotiate over relevant contract articles with the University bargaining team on Friday, November 7 at 1pm …
October 29, 2025 at 5:42 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
UAW sues the Trump admin for surveilling members.

This is what a UNION can do for you 🔥
October 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
We forced Columbia to the table. After we marched on the boss, picketed, tabled, and stood up against Public Safety’s attempts to stop our organizing, CU caved.

On Nov 7th we will face Columbia in a 170-person capacity room in Interchurch Center! RSVP: tinyurl.com/11-7-bargain...
RSVP for 11/7 Bargaining Session
SWC has successfully pressured management to the table! We are bargaining with the university on Friday, November 7th (11/7) at 1pm in Sockman Lounge at the Interchurch Center (475 Riverside Dr, New Y...
tinyurl.com
October 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
labornotes.bsky.social
@sbworkersunited.org members are electing strike captains and getting customers to pledge not to cross picket lines. They’re amassing in front of stores with signs, borrowing a slogan from UPS Teamsters: “Just Practicing for a Just Contract.” labornotes.org/2025/10/stri...
Strike Captains and Practice Pickets: Starbucks Workers Aim to Bring a Contract Home
Unionized Starbucks workers are electing strike captains and getting customers to pledge they won't cross picket lines. They’re amassing in front of stores with picket signs, borrowing a slogan that U...
labornotes.org
October 21, 2025 at 7:23 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
October 21 is #Columbiagivingday.

Instead of picking up the bill for CU’s corruption, donate to the Student Worker Aid Collective, an independent mutual aid fund run by workers.

opencollective.com/student-work...
Upside down Columbia crown, crossed out with the words "No Kings." The words "Giving Day" on golden yellow ribbon. Text: $9 million to settle lawsuit for giving fraudulent data to US News ranking $200 million to Trump admin $750 million to patients abused by Robert Hadden, who CU protected for years Millions more for executive salary and union-busting consultants.
October 19, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
ansleyerickson.bsky.social
Former Columbia Provost Jonathan Cole asks the university to bravely admit where it was wrong:

www.columbiaspectator.com/opinion/2025...
Columbia must now show courage and empathy
Dear Columbia leaders,
www.columbiaspectator.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:19 AM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
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.
October 8, 2025 at 3:18 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
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-...
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
"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."
October 7, 2025 at 7:46 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
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
October 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
jbenmenachem.com
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
swcolumbia.bsky.social Student Workers of Columbia @swcolumbia.bsky.social · Oct 5
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?
October 7, 2025 at 3:31 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
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?
October 5, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
knightcolumbia.org
⬇️ 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
September 30, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Reposted by Student Workers of Columbia
karl-jacoby.bsky.social
Mohsen Mahdawi and Mahmoud Khalil outside Columbia’s (locked) gates on the eve of their possible deportation
September 29, 2025 at 5:21 PM
swcolumbia.bsky.social
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"
September 28, 2025 at 12:56 AM