Columbia University graduate students who work as teaching or research assistants went on strike Monday (April 19) to protest the university's refusal to recognize them as a union.
Meanwhile, some 100 blocks downtown, officials at New York University (NYU) were bracing for a strike of adjunct faculty starting today over alleged labor law violations and stalled negotiations over a new contract guaranteeing part-time teachers increases in pay and benefits. The strike was averted when negotiators came to an agreement at 6:40 this morning, according to a message on the answering machine of the union representing the adjuncts.
At Columbia, teaching and research assistants have been asked to stop teaching classes, including sections and labs. They also no longer assist professors, grade assignments or exams, or work in labs. They will continue to attend class and study.
Last month, a majority of Columbia teaching assistants (TAs) and research assistants (RAs) elected ...
