NEW YORK — Chants and drumming from student workers echoed between buildings at Columbia University’s main campus in Morningside Heights on Thursday.
“It’s important to be here in solidarity,” said Courtney Carter, who is a part of the group of student workers protesting.
What You Need To Know
- Student workers at Columbia University are on strike. Their union of over 3,000 members makes up one of the largest student worker unions in the country.
- Student workers are asking for better wages, health care, more secure contracts and arbitration with a third party in cases of harassment
- A rep for Columbia University says they are in talks with student union leaders
Carter is a first-year graduate student in the Department of Astronomy. She believes their demands are necessary.
“Dental care is a big thing, eye care is a big thing,” she said.
Other asks include better pay, more secure contracts and arbitration with a third party in cases of harassment. Carter says she feels they deserve support based on the varied work they do.
“In addition to being a researcher and a worker, I’m also a student and I have class responsibilities,” Carter explained. “The amount that you spend on groceries, the amount that you spend on rent — I live in Columbia housing and my rent is almost $2,000 a month. And that's graduate subsidized housing. And so so when you're making $40,000 a year, that’s a big chunk,” she added.
Organizers say many of the workers can’t make ends meet.
“We make between $18,000 and $10,000 below a living wage,” said Manuela Luenjs, an organizer with Columbia's student union.
As workers marched throughout the campus over the past two weeks, it seemed the university's day to day continued around them.
“They came into my class,” Jorge San Roman said while looking at the group protesting in front of a library on campus. "It was quite intense."
“Everyone has a voice, so it’s fair that everyone speaks their thoughts,” senior undergraduate student Isabella Hopf said.
NY1 reached out to Columbia University for comment. A representative says they are in talks with student union leaders.
Carter is optimistic that something substantial will be given to student workers soon.
“The university has already shown willingness to move on some things — maybe not as much as what is being asked for, but they’re at least showing they’re willing to come to the table and have a conversation,” Carter said.
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