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Columbia College Chicago labor strike continues

By Fox 32 News
Published  November 10, 2023 5:30pm CST
Chicago
FOX 32 Chicago

Columbia College Chicago labor strike continues

Adjunct faculty are entering their third week on strike working toward a fair contract. Students organized a march to the college president's home Friday.

CHICAGO - A strike at Columbia College Chicago continues, heading into its third week.

Students and part-time faculty union members marched three miles from campus to the home of the college's president on Friday.

The student-organized event is the latest example of the overwhelming support for the more than 600 adjunct professors who have been picketing since October 30.

"This is supposed to be peaceful, nonviolent, we're doing this for a good cause, and we want to make sure that our actions today convey a positive message," Colombia College Chicago student Guo-Jian Schwartz said.

Mayor Brandon Johnson issued a statement Thursday on the labor strike. The complete statement is included below:

"We hope for a quick resolution from the administration that centers the thousands of students who view Columbia College as a pathway to fulfilling their dreams, and the adjunct faculty who help them reach those aspirations. Merging classes and eliminating courses do not serve the best interests of students or faculty. Adjunct professors work tirelessly to make sure higher education students receive the education they deserve, and I hope the union and the administration can come together to find an equitable solution that values our professors while prioritizing their students."

Columbia College Chicago released the following statement to FOX 32:

Columbia College Chicago announced measures to resume instruction and protect academic progress in classes where part-time instructors are striking.

"The union has disrupted instruction in some classes over a demand for guaranteed employment, which nobody except tenured, full-time faculty have earned on our campus," says President and CEO, Kwang-Wu Kim. "We are taking measures to protect the academic progress of our students."

In accordance with college policies and legal provisions, these steps include:

  • Replacing striking part-time union members as instructors of record for their classes over the coming week.
  • In each case, they will then be replaced by new instructors meeting qualifications for each course. Working with department chairs, the new instructors of record will assess students’ progress to date and work with department chairs and other academic leaders on the achievement of stated course learning outcomes.
  • Due to the disruption of a portion of the semester, students will be permitted to elect a pass/fail grading option for any course.
  • By early next week, students should be receiving messages from departments and the faculty assigned to each class as its instruction restarts.

Additionally, the college has bargained and continues to do so. The union is opting to continue the strike, even in the face of an offer that includes:

  • 16% raises over four years
  • Health care benefits for the first time ever
  • Also, for the first time, the college is willing to guarantee work for the union’s two most senior top-tier membership groups, though the union is demanding guaranteed employment for all part-time instructors except the newest hires – the college cannot essentially grant tenure to part-time instructors via a labor contract.