UAW strikes at universities and cultural institutions highlight new organizing strength

Workers at The New School, HarperCollins and the University of California are walking pickets

It took just one day of striking for part-time faculty at the New School to win concessions from management that educators had been asking for since contract talks began in June. The strike started Nov. 16 after part time faculty and university management failed to reach agreement on a new contract and by the beginning of the strike’s second day, workers started to notice a change in their bargaining sessions.  

"They opened the door on items today that are some of our core demands that relate to job security that they previously rejected every single session,” Annie Lee Larson, the part-time faculty’s unit chair and lead negotiator, said between bargaining sessions Nov. 17. “We’ve had over 30 bargaining sessions since June 30th and today, finally they came to the table and they're willing to have a conversation with us."