Protestors Interrupt President Bollinger's Class In Support Of Student Workers' Strike

Upper West Side NY

28 October, 2021

1:05 PM

Description

Columbia Daily Spectator BY JUSTIN LIANG OCTOBER 27, 2021 A group of approximately 500 protestors gathered at the sundial Wednesday afternoon in support of the Student Workers of Columbia's demands for a fair contract. The crowd was composed primarily of graduate and undergraduate students, expressing solidarity for the strike anticipated for next Wednesday, Nov. 3, if the University does not accede to the SWC's demands. After a series of speeches, the crowd moved to march on Schermerhorn Hall, where protestors interrupted a class being taught by University President Lee Bollinger. Bollinger was lecturing for his undergraduate political science class, "Freedom of Speech and Press," when protestors entered the classroom, chanting "Bollinger in your ivory tower, we'll fight you with union power." "We could hear the crowd from outside and we tried to continue as normal, but then people came up the stairs … and then a few people actually came in, and they were saying 'Fuck you, Prezbo' right to his face and other different slogans from the strike," Matthew Harper, CC '22, a student in the class, said. Additional protestors gathered outside Schermerhorn before being turned back as Bollinger dismissed his class. Bollinger himself exited through a side door, avoiding the crowd massed outside the building. "You know, it's hard—this is what makes the First Amendment difficult," Bollinger said as protestors entered the classroom, according to a video from a student in his class. Earlier this semester, the union authorized a strike for the fourth time in four years. The SWC-UAW, previously named the Graduate Workers of Columbia–United Auto Workers, has been negotiating for a labor contract with the University for over four years. After rejecting a tentative agreement in the spring, the union internally reformed over the summer and is now preparing for a potential strike on Nov. 3 if both sides at the bargaining table cannot agree on a contract. At yesterday's bargaining session, the University presented a proposal to the union that offered wage increases, increased funding for summer stipends, and a general healthcare fund. However,the proposal did not answer union calls for better childcare support, dental insurance, and complete unit recognition in line with the National Labor Relations Board's designation. The agreement would also require that SWC withdraw improper practices charges that the union filed at the beginning of the semester in response to a stipend pay change in May. Charlie Steinman, a second-year doctoral student in the history department and a member of the SWC records committee, was one of the protest leaders addressing the crowd. "[The turnout] blew us away. More than we could have ever hoped for. So I am hopeful for what's to come." Steinman said. After successfully interrupting Bollinger's class, protestors went to President's House, where they continued to chant before ending their demonstration on Low Steps. The entire event lasted approximately two hours. "My expectations are definitely colored from the strike last spring when the campus was desolate and abandoned, so it's just so gratifying to see so many grad students and undergrads out there supporting us," said Jackson Miller, a second-year doctoral student in the materials science and engineering department and a member of the bargaining committee. "I really think we have a good chance of applying a lot of pressure on Columbia and getting a strong contract. We're definitely in a relatively good position timing-wise, with so many strikes happening across the country and media focus on labor action, and I think we really have a good chance to push Columbia just a little bit further at the table to get the concessions we need on healthcare and compensation and nondiscrimination and harassment." Staff writer Justin Liang can be contacted at [email protected]. Follow Spectator on Twitter @ColumbiaSpec. Founded in 1877, the Columbia Daily Spectator is the independent undergraduate newspaper of Columbia University, serving thousands of readers in Morningside Heights, West Harlem, and beyond. Read more at columbiaspectator.com and donate here.