A powerful union representing some of Columbia University’s administrators said several people were arrested during last week’s campus riots when a crowd of unruly anti-Israel protesters occupied a university building. An Ivy League school plans to sue an Ivy League school after employees were allegedly mistreated.
The Transport Workers’ Union, whose 155,000 members include university employees, is in trouble for failing to better protect its workers when a masked pro-terrorism mob invaded and barricaded itself in historic Hamilton Hall last Tuesday. He blamed Columbia University President Minoush Shafik for the fall.
“This is appalling and disgusting, and we won’t stop until we find every legal recourse,” the union’s president, John Samuelsen, told the Post on Tuesday.
“Frankly, Colombia cannot be trusted to protect its blue-collar workers.”
First, the upcoming legal action Politico reportedat least two Columbia custodians and one security guard were on duty when a mob violently stormed the building, padlocked the doors and blocked the entrance with metal barricades, tables and chairs. .
Dramatic footage from inside the building showed one of the Columbia’s maintenance workers clashing with masked protesters.
Mr. Samuelsen, who has more than 700 Columbia University employees representing local chapters of the union, including custodians, security guards and electricians, said it took time for New York City police to be dispatched to quell the violence. He lashed out at the school’s president, saying it took too long.
In a letter to Mr. Shafiq late Monday, the union chief said that the employees who tried to flee the building had been attacked by at least one “smart, sanctimonious, elitist … occupier” and “now… “The moment is more important than you guys,” he claimed.
Samuelsen said the caretakers had to “fight bravely” through barricaded exits.
A female security guard who was on shift duty managed to escape from the building while protesters were trapped inside, but the “occupation demonstrators (also known as privileged class)” attacked her with very offensive language. He is still “shaken” by his encounter with the children. ” he added.
“There is no question that the university was aware that outside agitators were active on campus, posing an increased risk to university staff. ’,” Samuelsen wrote. letter.
“President Shakif, imagine for a moment in the shoes of a blue-collar janitor or security guard. They come to work to earn a paycheck for the day to take care of their families, but in the end… I was held against my will while being physically and verbally abused.”
“Imagine coming to work and finding yourself the victim of a serious crime because Columbia University didn’t care enough about you to take common-sense safeguards,” he added. .
The union headquarters has called on Mr. Shafiq to meet with him to discuss compensation for staff and is demanding that he hand over footage from inside the building to the school.
Mr Samuelsen also asked for a breakdown of the students and “external agitators” arrested during the incident.
“It’s not just Columbia. We’re in the process of identifying all the people who occupied Hamilton Hall, not just the students,” he told the Post.
“How outrageous that ideological demagogues think they have the right to impose their cause on blue-collar managers.”
The NYPD said it handcuffed a total of 109 protesters in Columbia during the Hamilton Hall occupation.
Mayor Eric Adams last week cited arrest data showing that nearly half of those arrested were not students.
Columbia University did not immediately respond to the Post’s request for comment.
