Cornell UAW Members Vote to Authorize Strike

The Facts -

• • Workers at Cornell voted 94% to authorize a strike if necessary.

• • Cornell’s endowment rose 39% over four years, while workers' buying power fell 5%.

• • UAW filed unfair labor practice charges against Cornell amid contract negotiations.

ITHACA – In a historic turnout, Cornell University workers voted 94% to authorize a strike if necessary. The contract expired on June 30 and affects over 1,200 custodians, groundskeepers, cooks, food service workers, greenhouse workers, gardeners, mechanics, and more.

These maintenance, dining, and facilities workers face declining real wages despite Cornell’s endowment soaring 39% to nearly $10 billion and tuition up 13% over four years. Meanwhile, workers’ buying power has dropped 5%.

Many workers have moved out of Ithaca due to high housing costs and pay pricey campus parking fees. Most earn less than $22 per hour, below the regional living wage. Top administrators earned over $12.4 million in 2022.

“We’re the heart, soul, and backbone of Cornell. Students and faculty depend on us, yet our pay doesn’t keep up,” said UAW Local 2300 President Christine Johnson. “We’re united and ready to join the stand up movement for our fair share.”

UAW Local 2300 filed seven unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against Cornell, citing workers’ rights violations amid contract talks.

Cornell workers join other UAW members fighting corporate greed. Thousands have secured record contracts recently, including auto workers at Daimler Truck, the Big Three automakers, and Allison Transmission workers in Indianapolis, IN.

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