Columbia clericals score initial successes
1985 1985-03Read it in the scan (PDF at ETOL), page 4 →
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By HARLAN F. STONE NEW YORK-During the week before their Feb. 4 strike deadline, the Columbia clerical workers scored their first victories against the university administration.
The administration agreed to begin "discussions" with elected representatives of the Columbia local of District 65/UAW. The workers' Extended Organizing Committee then elected a fiveperson negotiating committee, which met with representatives of the administration on Jan. 30.
It contained several small but significant concessions to the Columbia clericals. The administration agreed to recognize District 65 and begin negotiations immediately upon NLRB certification of District 65. It also promised that no changes in benefits would be made without negotiations with District 65, and the grievance procedure was improved This agreement was overwhelmingly approved by the membership of the Columbia local on Jan. 31. Showing little confidence in the good will of the administration, the clerical workers also voted to authorize strike action if Columbia failed to abide by the agreeement.
A little over a week later, on Feb. 11, the NLRB upheld District 65's victory in the May 1983 representation election. Within days the university administration recognized District 65 and began discussions to prepare for the negotiation of the first contract for Columbia's 1100 clerical workers.
Almost all of the clerical workers understand that the university's concessions and the NLRB's relatively speedy DEAD, sane.
S MI USBAND SOCIALIST ACTION action on the Columbia case were the results of their own activity; of the demonstrations, rallies, and other strike preparations in the month leading to Feb. 11. Many activists realize, however, that these victories are only the first round in a prolonged battle for a decent contract.
The Columbia local has already begun to take the offensive. The Membership Committee is presently charged with the task of signing up hundreds of new members. If it models itself on the Contract Committee that existed at Yale, the Membership Committee can play an important role in organizing and mobilizing the rank-and-file clerical workers.
During the strike, the Contract Committee was the backbone of rank-and-file participation on the picket line and at demonstrations, sit-ins, and the like. The existence of such a body at Columbia could organize the power of the rank and file and prepare for the sort of actions that will be needed to win a decent contract. SOLDARIN UNION SWO-TIER
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Out of this meeting came a "memo- randum of understanding."