Student Monday update: Cornell-UAW negotiations

Aug. 19, 2024

Dear Students,

The University has continued to negotiate in good faith with the UAW over a new labor contract for our service and maintenance workers — negotiations that continued throughout this weekend and into last night. Despite the University’s best efforts to negotiate a fair agreement and avoid a strike, negotiations with the UAW ended last evening without reaching an agreement. The union continued to reject the proposal to use the federal mediator assigned to the negotiations or a mediator of the UAW’s choice that could assist the parties in reaching an agreement.

It is expected that some service and maintenance workers will strike and not report for work, as is their legal right. Other service and maintenance workers may continue to work during the strike, as is also their right. The University respects their decisions.

Operational Adjustments

Student and Campus Life, Facilities and Campus Services, and the SC Johnson College of Business, College of Veterinary Medicine, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, and College of Arts and Sciences are working with contingency plans that modify service levels and reallocate employees to critical business needs. Still, there may be temporary impacts to certain campus services.

Keeping You Informed

We are committed to keeping you informed of operational adjustments that may impact your day-to-day life on campus. On-campus residents and Cornell Dining meal plan holders will receive regular emails outlining any operational changes to dining and residential life. Additionally, all students and campus community members are encouraged to check the Campus Life Operations Updates webpage for real-time updates related to Dining, residential building care and maintenance, community and service centers, retail services like the Cornell Store and Print Services, and campus space reservation services.

Negotiation Details

After the University’s Thursday offer, representing a historic increase in wages for this bargaining unit, we further enhanced our offer yesterday to trigger, for the first time in a Cornell union negotiation, a cost of living (COLA) adjustment, in addition to the general wage increase, that protects all members of the bargaining unit from high future inflation.

The University offered our UAW employees a 17.5% increase in wages, compounded over the four years of the contract, and a change in time to promotion that would provide our lowest paid employees an immediate 10.3% wage increase. This is in addition to the enhancements noted in the message last Friday related to health and personal leave (“HAP”), vacation, and health and safety.

The University remains committed to bargaining in good faith.

In pressing for a wage increase even higher than the University’s historic offer, UAW national leadership has repeatedly pointed to Cornell’s $10 billion endowment. On this point, it is important to provide the following clarity:

• The vast majority of Cornell’s endowment is restricted by agreements with donors and can only be used for purposes specified in the gift agreement.
• The University does draw from the endowment each year, at amounts restricted by New York State law, for expenses such as financial aid and other student support, facilities maintenance and upgrades, academic programs, and research activities.
• In fiscal year 2023, the endowment provided $386 million toward these kinds of expenses — money that would otherwise have had to come from sources like tuition and housing and dining charges.
• Cornell is need-blind in its admissions and is committed to meeting the full need of those who choose to attend Cornell. As we continue our efforts to make a Cornell education affordable to more students and families in New York state and across the country, we cannot simply raise tuition to unmanageable levels to cover the cost.
• The responsible management of the University’s resources still makes Cornell one of the best employers in the region and state with salaries outpacing local competitors.

Civility and Safety

It is important to emphasize our commitment to respect and safety during this time, for both our employees in the UAW bargaining unit and the entire Cornell community. The University has implemented plans to ensure that those who wish to engage in their usual campus activities can do so. Likewise, we respect the right of our service and maintenance workers to lawfully and peacefully strike.

Union Activity

You may see individuals holding signs and chanting phrases around campus related to the ongoing union negotiations. Please respect the rights of those peacefully participating and follow guidance provided by university staff for your safety and the safety of those participating in the activities.

If there is any activity that makes you feel threatened or unsafe, please report the activity via the Report an Incident or Concern form. In the case of an emergency, please contact Cornell University Police by calling (607) 255-1111.

Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as we navigate this time together.

Sincerely,

Ryan Lombardi
Vice President, Student and Campus Life