Statement of New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on Columbia University Graduate Students Vote to Join UAW

Statement of New York State AFL-CIO President Mario Cilento on Columbia University Graduate Students Vote to Join UAW The decision by Columbia graduate students, who have overwhelmingly voted to join the United Auto Workers (UAW), is a tremendous victory for the organized labor movement. They have ensured that from this point forward, their voices will be heard at the workplace. On behalf of the 2.5 million members of the New York State AFL-CIO, we congratulate our brothers and sisters of the UAW, as well as NYS AFL-CIO Vice President Julie Kushner, the Director of UAW Region 9A for her tireless efforts to unite the research assistants and teaching assistants at Columbia University to bring collective bargaining onto campuses of higher education. The outcome of this vote is a true testament to the drive and determination of working men and women seeking a better life. We welcome these new members into the largest and most diverse state labor movement in the country.    

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The New York State AFL-CIO is a federation of 3,000 affiliated public sector, private sector, and building trades unions throughout the state representing 2.5 million members, retirees and their families. Our State Federation, which is the largest and most diverse in the country, is committed to helping working families achieve a better life. For more information on the Labor Movement in New York, visit www.nysaflcio.org.