2/11/2026 bargaining session: All remaining economic proposals
On Wednesday, Feb. 11, our bargaining team met with the University’s representatives. Since the university indicated at the last session that it needed to see all of our economic articles before it could make counter offers on items like compensation, we presented all of our proposals that could be costed at this session. This includes:
Retirement benefits, which requires the University to match retirement savings up to 8% of a student worker’s salary per pay period.
Transitional funding, which provides funding for workers to transition out of labs with intolerable work conditions or those that do work which the student employee considers ethically objectionable.
Economic components of Working Conditions (Transportation, Travel, Workplace & Materials, and Relocation Assistance)
Artificial Intelligence, which bars the University from replacing labor with AI and prohibits its compulsory or unethical use.
The University brought one counter:
CU Childcare counter delivered on Feb. 11
You can read about how the session went in live notes. You can see all proposed articles from both sides on our proposal tracker.
Below is a brief summary of the issues discussed, as well as reflections from members who observed the session.
Childcare
On Nov. 24, 2025, SWC presented a Parental Rights proposal. Provisions include:
$25,000 childcare subsidy per year for each child under the age of six and not yet attending kindergarten, with increases each year;
$16,000 subsidy per year for each child over the age of six or attending kindergarten; with increases each year;
One-time reimbursement of up to $25,000 for adoption and foster assistance.
The counter brought by the University includes only:
$5,750 childcare subsidy per year for each child under the age of six and not yet attending kindergarten, with a 3% annual increase in each year of the agreement;
$6,000 reimbursement for adoption and foster assistance.
The University’s counterproposal falls far short of the cost of raising a child in New York City. Columbia’s own childcare centers charge between $22,284 and $47,000 per year.
Remaining economic articles
At the university’s request, SWC presented all remaining articles that have an economic component. The University disputed several of our proposals by claiming that they are “student benefits” and therefore not subject to bargaining. We presented arguments that issues such as funding for travel and technology (e.g. laptops) are closely tied to our work as employees.
The University did not provide any concrete responses to our proposals at the session. The University’s team did state several times, however, that they don’t see such provisions “going into a collective bargaining agreement.”
Framework agreement
As they did in the last bargaining session, Columbia’s team continued to bring up the issue of The Framework Agreement of 2018. Informed by UAW counsel, our bargaining committee and servicing representative reiterated that it only covered the initial contract negotiations.
Further, our articles as they are written do not undercut the university’s academic decision making, nor should the university obstruct the union from exercising its rights under the law to present article proposals.
Members’ responses to the bargaining session
Here is what some SWC members had to say after observing the session:
“The university loves to gaslight us. In this session, the university complained that we only brought them our economic proposals. I was at the last session where we brought our compensation article. They specifically asked for the rest of our economic articles so they could cost out all the things we requested and give us a response on compensation. So today, we did what they asked and then they complained again.”
- PhD worker from CUMC
“I don’t know how it goes normally, but it seemed relatively professional and productive today. Though the university’s side seemed a little incredulous to proposals on our side that, in my opinion, are pretty fair.”
– PhD worker from SIPA
We have seen this level of obstinance from Columbia before. In 2021, the university’s bargaining team stonewalled our demands, but we mounted a strong campaign to win wage increases, the health fund, transitional funding, and protections against discrimination and harassment.
We are upping the pressure of our contract campaign. At the General Body Meeting on Feb. 5, members voted to initiative the Strike Authorization Vote on Feb. 20. We will gather for another GBM on Thursday, Feb. 19 at 6pm to discuss our core demands before the vote officially opens. RSVP here.
Let’s win the workplace that we deserve!