Crystal Lewis at The Chief Leader reports Post-Doctoral Workers at Columbia University have ratified a contract that provides 24% raises over the course of a three-year pact and establishes a $500,000 Hardship Fund.  Columbia Postdoctoral Workers-United Auto Workers Local 4100, which reached a tentative agreement with the University in late October, says 89.4% of the 891 Members who participated in the ratification vote approved the pact.  The deal, which expires on June 30th, 2026, also includes a $1,200 ratification bonus and raises the minimum salary for Post-Doctoral Workers from about $60,000 a year to $70,000.  Associate Researchers will start at $77,000 and Workers will receive annual 3% raises.  The Workers are also eligible for $1,000 experience bonuses for up to seven years on the job and 1.5% annual increases to the minimum salary for newly hired Workers.  “This contract is an important win for our Union, containing notable gains in compensation, rights and protections for Post-Docs and Associate Research Scientists at Columbia!” - the Union wrote on Social Media.  The agreement, covering about 1,700 Post-Doctoral Workers and Associate Research Scientists, averted a potential Strike, which was set to start the same day the contract’s ratification was announced.

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