Cornell's Elite Image Clashes with Workers' Struggles in Ongoing Strike.

UAW Local 2300 Strikes at Cornell: Workers Demand Livable Pay

After months of unsuccessful discussions and without a contract since July, members of United Auto Workers Local 2300, which includes kitchen staff, custodians, and groundskeepers, voted to go on strike on August 18. The union, which represents 1,300 frontline employees, turned down Cornell University's salary proposals and is now requesting increased compensation to combat poverty wages.
 

Bargaining representative Amy Kloc said the university could fix the low wages but chose not to, which led to the decision to strike. At the picket line near the university's administration offices, the contrast between the workers' financial struggles and the university’s prestigious image was clear. Workers marched with UAW signs while surrounded by impressive buildings named after rich donors, as new students arrived to start their $70,000-a-year education.
 

Shawn Nichols, a campus gardener who struggles to support his three children on his Cornell salary, expressed that the administration should recognize the essential nature of their work. He mentioned that while the university calls them "essential" employees, they are not treated as such and emphasized that workers should not have to rely on food stamps to make ends meet.
Kelly Tracy, who has worked in food service at university for eighteen years, reflected on how the job used to be great when she started, providing stability for her as a single mother. However, she noted that conditions have worsened over the years, particularly since COVID-19, and that the administration has been unwilling to make improvements. The union is seeking pay increases to match the living wage standard of about $25 per hour for Tompkins County, as most members earn less than $22 per hour. They also want to end the tiered wage system which places new employees on a lower pay scale, secure longevity-based bonuses, and get free campus parking.

Initially, they asked for a 45 percent raise over four years, while the university offered 17.5 percent. During the strike union demanded for 25% raise over four years, although Cornell’s administration recently increased their offer slightly and proposed a cost-of-living adjustment, the union still finds it insufficient. On 21 August the Department of Human Resources requested that the union must use a mediator to resolve the issue but still, there seems no progress in this matter. Beyond pay, workplace safety is another issue in the contract talks. Last year, an accident at a campus dining hall led to severe injuries and $43,000 in OSHA fines, which Cornell is contesting. The bargaining team also accused the administration of a "hostile and abusive tone" and filed Unfair Labor Practice charges, alleging retaliation against organizing efforts. They criticized the university’s response as insincere, noting its $10 billion endowment and high administrator salaries.
 

The University claims its raise offer is historic and says its endowment is mainly used for research and student aid rather than labor costs. However, the university's status as Ithaca’s major employer highlights growing inequality, with low wages for workers, tax avoidance due to nonprofit status, and student-driven gentrification raising local housing costs.
Jim, a building-care worker at Cornell for twelve years, feels the administration doesn’t care about workers, which is why they’re on strike. At the picket line, Jim said he’s unsure about the strike's long-term effects but is staying strong because no Cornell worker should need two jobs to get by. The union, Local 2300, hasn’t struck since the 1980s, and the current administration hasn’t dealt with a campus-wide strike before. The university has asked non-union staff and retirees to work temporarily, which has been criticized as the employees may struggle due to family responsibilities. 
 

At The Democratic National Convention on August 19, UAW President Shawn Fain criticized the university for corporate greed, which caused a shift in UAW leadership and more aggressive tactics and grassroots activism. On campus, political activity has also surged as graduate workers unionized with the United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America, marking a significant step in organizing graduate students. There were also clashes over a pro-Palestinian encampment and pro-labor protests after Starbucks closed its Ithaca locations. 
Tracy, a worker, wanted Cornellians to understand that striking was not their preferred choice. She believed that the reason for the strike was unavoidable and students should support this, she felt proud to be part of this movement and aimed to give a voice to those who don’t have one.
 

Editor’s Note:
 

The UAW Local 2300 strike was due to unavoidable circumstances at Cornell University, reflecting broader issues of labor and social justice within the academic community. After working for many years at low wages and hoping to get better working conditions and safety at the workplace, this strike drew national attention to these workers’ ongoing situation.  The situation underscores a deepening divide between Cornell's elite status and the financial struggles of its workers. As the strike continues, it raises important questions about labor rights, university priorities, and the impact of institutional wealth on worker welfare. 

Skoobuzz hopes that the fair demands of these workers will be fulfilled. The university must address its concerns about livable wages, working conditions, and workplace safety.