Student Workers at Columbia End 10-Week Strike After Reaching a Deal

The agreement follows negotiations that grew tense at times, and those on both sides said they were glad to see the stalemate end.

Student workers at Columbia University gave their tentative blessing on Friday to a new contract that raises their wages and improves their health benefits, ending a 10-week strike that disrupted some classes and strained relations with administrators.

Those on both sides of the bargaining said they were pleased that the standoff had ended.

“It has been a really, really long road,” said Lilian Coie, 27, a doctoral student in neurobiology and a member of the bargaining committee for Student Workers of Columbia, which represents about 3,000 graduate and undergraduate students. “Even though the agreement isn’t perfect, we’re very happy with it.”