United Auto Workers Local 2300 — the union that represents approximately 1,200 Cornell dining, custodial, maintenance and other workers — voted Aug. 15 to authorize a strike that could start Monday, Aug. 19, the first day of Cornell’s new student move-in. According to UAW, 94 percent of Local 2300 members voted for the strike authorization.
UAW Local 2300 has set an Aug. 18th deadline for the University to meet their demands. Should Cornell fail to meet members’ demands by this time, the workers represented by the union could strike beginning Aug. 19.
According to a University press release, nearly 8,400 students will move into on-campus housing from Aug. 19 through Aug. 25.
In a University statement released Friday, Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Christine Lovely stated the University had “contingency plans in place to maintain essential services” and the University “respect[s] employees’ right” to choose to strike.
Lovely wrote that the lack of a new agreement is “despite the best efforts of the University.” She outlined the terms of the University’s latest offer to UAW Local 2300, which include an initial six percent wage increase with additional increases in later years, bonuses and increased pay for longtime employees and pay increases to employees providing job training.
“The University continues to bargain in good faith,” Lovely wrote.
After the union’s previous two-year contract with the University expired on July 1, UAW Local 2300 has been rallying throughout the summer amid negotiations with Cornell to create a contract that would satisfy their demands. These demands include no cost employee parking, wage increases consistent with increases in cost of living and workplace safety improvements.
In a video posted to the UAW Region Nine Instagram account, UAW Region Nine Director Daniel Vicente accused the University of “slow-rolling” the negotiations, or delaying action on the union’s demands until they face pressure to act due to imminent work stoppages or strikes.
Speaking directly to the University, Vicente cautioned the pace of their response.
“We’re less than a week away, and the 18th is a deadline,” Vicente said. “There will be no extensions.”
Update, Aug. 16, 10:45 a.m.: This article has been updated to include a University statement written by Cornell Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Christine Lovely.