Over 1,000 members of UAW Local 2300 have initiated a strike at Cornell University after contract negotiations hit a stalemate.
Despite prolonged discussions, Cornell’s final proposal of a 15.5% wage increase spread over four years, coupled with an annual cost-of-living adjustment, was rejected by the union as insufficient. UAW 2300 responded with a demand for a 25% wage increase and the elimination of tiered wage systems. With no new offer from Cornell by the 10 p.m. deadline, the strike commenced.
“Cornell had months to get serious about bargaining a fair deal. The University’s high-paid, arrogant lawyers thought they could wait until the 11th hour to get serious. UAW has brought all its resources to the table in a good faith effort to reach an equitable deal,” said UAW Region 9’s Daniel Vicente. “In my opinion, Cornell’s bargaining team has thought since the beginning that because they have fancy degrees and lofty titles that we don’t, our workers can’t read or do math. This strike is a direct result of University management not valuing its employees and treating working-class people like they are an expendable afterthought. The University deemed these workers essential when it was convenient during the height of the COVID pandemic, well it was convenient until it was time to pay. Today we take it to the streets. UAW members will wait for the University to come to the table with a REAL offer that reflects the truly essential nature of our workforce, and the team here in Region 9 will continue to stand in solidarity with them as long as it takes.”
The decision to strike was approved by a union vote.
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