Month: April 2018

On Thursday, April 26, 2018, the Columbia grad workers’ strike strike received support from the Irish President, Michael Higgins. But more on that later. After the first two days of picketing, I was sunburned but energized by the past two days’ showing: over 1,000 graduate workers signed into our picket on the first day, with large enough turnout on the following (rainy) day to maintain pickets on the east and west entrances to Columbia’s Morningside campus. I’m a graduate student in environmental science, and my pay and future career prospects are tied to my research. As such I was...

The week has dwindled but our energy has not. This is immediately clear to me when I see the strikers start to crowd in around the check in desk at 11:00 sharp, even as rain begins to fall. Today our sign-in table and tent are set up further down from the sundial, as a number of barricades have now been set in place, blocking off our usual spot – not a coincidence, I think. I fumble myself into a poncho and ‘UAW on strike!’ sign, and as has become my custom throughout the week, I grab an orange bucket...