ITHACA – In a major win for higher education workers, UAW members at Cornell University have voted by 77% to ratify a new four-year contract securing wage increases of up to 25.4%, a groundbreaking first-time cost of living allowance increase, and the elimination of the two-tier wage system. The agreement also introduces significant improvements to policies on time off, uniforms, inclement weather and safety protections.
The deal comes after workers at Cornell, made up of maintenance and facilities workers, dining workers, gardeners, custodians, agriculture and horticulture workers and others, went on strike August 18 and forced the university to meet their demands.
Prior to the strike, Cornell was offering $37 million in new wages and benefits over the life of the contract, which workers knew would not be enough to counter declining real wages and skyrocketing housing costs in Ithaca. After striking, the workers were able to win another $6 million in investments to eliminate tiers, pay living wages, and introduce COLA to protect wages from inflation. All told, the new agreement includes $43 million in new wage and benefit costs.
Over the past four years, Cornell’s endowment has soared 39% to nearly $10 billion and tuition has increased 13% – all while workers’ buying power has fallen 5%.
“The membership was ready to do things differently in these negotiations, and they built the collective power to force Cornell to say ‘Yes’ to a truly unprecedented contract,” said UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson. “We united around a clear set of demands and won a great agreement that rewards our work, enhances workplace safety, and will improve our members’ lives.”
Workers will return to work for their next shift starting at 10:00 p.m.
Cornell University workers are the latest UAW members standing up to the billionaire class. Thousands of UAW members have won record contracts in the last year, including auto workers at Daimler Truck, the Big Three automakers, and Allison Transmission workers in Indianapolis, IN.
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