This text was sent out by NYU’s graduate union representatives today
to union members:
NYU “Town Hall” Draws Standing Room Only Crowd
Overwhelming Support for Union is Voiced
Thanks to all of you – GSOC members and supporters – who attended
NYU’s “town hall” meeting yesterday. Despite the meeting being held
in mid-July when the campus is deserted, hundreds of GSOC members,
faculty and NYU workers turned out to voice their strong support of
our union.
A number of elected officials, including Councilmember Christine
Quinn, State Senator Tom Duane, Assemblyman Scott Stringer, as well as
representatives from the offices of Congressman Anthony Weiner and
Civil Liberties lawyer Norman Siegel, were also present to encourage
President John Sexton and the NYU administration to negotiate in good
faith with our union. Initially, the administration prohibited any
elected officials (as well as members of the press) from entering the
packed, standing room only meeting, but in the face of overwhelming
opposition from the crowd, President Sexton was forced to relent and
allow them to speak.
Over 50 people, many of them senior faculty members, spoke in the
meeting, voicing their support for GSOC and their outrage at the
administration’s refusal to bargain and undemocratic decision-making.
Edward Ziter, a professor in the Drama department, introduced a
resolution calling for the NYU administration to immediately begin
bargaining in good faith with our union. The resolution was
overwhelmingly approved.
NYU has said they will release their “final decision” on union
recognition tomorrow, Friday July 15th. Yesterday’s meeting may not
change that decision, but it did show that anything NYU decides about
our union will be far from final. As many of our members told NYU
yesterday, “GSOC is here to stay,” and we will do whatever it takes to
win a second contract.
The GSOC web site is: GSOC
Other coverage: Washington Square News, Inside Higher Ed
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