Bargaining update – June 26th, 2020
We met with representatives from NYU for a second session of impact bargaining on June 26th, 2020. As described in our previous blog post, this series of bargaining sessions is aimed at mitigating the effects of the many unexpected current events on our working conditions. Last time, we presented NYU with our demands, and as expected they told us to give them some time to review them and come to us with a response.
Today, two weeks later, NYU’s representatives met with our bargaining committee again. And to our disappointment, NYU did not bring forth any meaningful position on any of our demands. Despite our willingness to give them two weeks to consider, we were met with empty statements such as “we are taking some of these demands under advisement”. NYU’s representatives also stated that some of our demands would be considered only within the scope of regular bargaining, set to begin in mid-July (either on the 14th or the 15th). No more details were given to us as to which demand fell into which camp.
It is important to remember that while our demands cover a range of issues, many of them are pressing, current problems faced by NYU grad workers over the summer, and several concern this past Spring semester. The administration’s unwillingness to even bargain over these reasonable demands is clearly in bad faith, and does not bode well for their position going forward.
After taking a moment to caucus amongst themselves, BC members reconvened and reiterated their demands in order to impress upon NYU their urgency. We demanded that NYU come to the next session ready to discuss these issues individually, as we also began regular bargaining for the next contract. Finally, the GSOC BC members also made an information request from NYU. We want to know:
• The exact parameters on the current hiring freeze, and its relation to Summer and Fall semester hires. We want to know more about NYU’s ability (or lack thereof) to hire different categories of grad workers.
• Emergency grants: what are the exact parameters within which they are operating? Why have so many people been refused who are in clear need?
• Clarification from NYU on their ties to the NYPD, why the NYPD are allowed on campus, particularly when unmasked. We also want to know about funds exchanged between NYU and the NYPD
We were told that these requests would be taken back to the administration and considered before being brought to us, and that none of the requests would be addressed now.
The next bargaining session will take place in mid-July, likely on the 15th or 16th. Look out for our next update then!