New York, NY - President Vincent Alvarez of the New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, today released the following statement regarding NYU's refusal to reach a fair contract for graduate student researchers and instructors:

"The Graduate Student Organizing Committee-UAW Local 2110 (GSOC-UAW) won a landmark union election in December of 2013 at New York University (NYU), with a 98.4% majority, after having been stripped of the right to unionize for over eight years.  

"For over one year now, these workers, who teach students, perform cutting edge research, and are a significant part of the reason why NYU has become a major economic engine in our city, have been in negotiations for a contract.

"The UAW represents exceptionally skilled members at both the Washington Square campus in Manhattan and the Poly-Metrotech campus in Brooklyn.  The union and its members seek a fair contract addressing the low wages paid at the NYU Polytechnic School of Engineering, fully paid health coverage for the workers, guaranteed pay increases, childcare, and other family-friendly benefits.

"We had been hopeful that the UAW and NYU would be able to reach an agreement for these workers in a reasonable time frame. Unfortunately, it has become apparent that NYU's refusal to bargain in good faith means these workers will not succeed in obtaining a fair agreement without organizing for a strike.  The union has set a deadline for a limited four-day strike commencing Tuesday, March 10th.

"The New York City Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO, on behalf of its 300 affiliated unions, representing 1.3 million members, calls upon NYU  to reach a fair contract with the GSOC-UAW now, and not needlessly force the workers out on strike.

"We are committed to standing with the members of GSOC-UAW on the picket line, and will bring all the resources of our movement to support them in their fight for justice.”

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