Look what these student workers won by sticking together!
Fellow Student Workers,
As our campaign to win a democratic voice continues, we are excited to share news with you of union contract wins from other campuses. When student workers stand together and think big and creatively in their vision, they can win substantial positive gains in their work lives on campus! Check out below for inspiration for the road ahead. And remember: We are stronger together!
Last month at Grinnell College, the undergraduate student workers in the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW) ratified their first contract. This represents the first wall-to-wall undergrad worker union contract in the US. How cool! By standing strong in the face of union-busting, they were able to win a substantial wage increase, and:
- Real Grievance Procedures when a student worker feels they’ve been wrongly disciplined (with an independent arbitrator making the final decisions instead of the Dean of Students);
- Just Cause protections for all student workers including academic workers (who the college wanted to exclude); and
- A provision in the contract requiring the university to bargain over the effects of major
workplace rule changes or changes to the student-worker handbook.
Grad workers at Fordham University in Fordham Graduate Student Workers/FGSW-CWA Local 1104 mobilized and fought for a contract that sets industry standards in several areas and builds a foundation for future union members. In addition to increases in pay and annual raises, they won International Student Worker Protections and an Emergency Fund:
- Time off and job protection for those leaving the country for visa appointments;
- The use of alternative ID numbers to ensure prompt payment
- A newly designated point person in OIS (Office for International Services) to answer and address International Worker questions and concerns
- $15,000 emergency fund for International Workers to access in times of acute monetary distress. For example, to help pay for housing at the beginning of their employment. This is an industry leading standard.
Like Grinnell College student workers, Fordham grad workers also won:
- Just Cause and Grievance and Arbitration provisions: Arbitrary firings and capricious discipline are no longer possible. All workers facing discipline or termination will have due process protections and Union representation, and their contract is enforceable through a transparent and fair grievance and arbitration procedure;
- Right to Refuse Unsafe Work: Grad workers have the right to refuse to work in conditions they consider a clear and imminent danger to their health and safety; and
- Quality of life improvements, such as: break room access, teaching resources, timely reimbursement, and timely work assignments.
There is an open invitation to anyone interested to join the USWB-CWA Organizing Committee. This is where we build our campaign by educating ourselves and talking with our fellow student workers to create a vision of a better Berea for all. We’ll be inviting guests to future meetings from these campaigns above - so email us at berea@ucw-cwa.org if you’d like to get involved!
It’s possible that we could have our union election over the summer with mail-in ballots - so update your mailing address here with where you’ll receive mail this summer, so that you can receive your ballot from the NLRB - it just takes a minute.
On behalf of the United Student Workers of Berea-CWA Organizing Committee,
Evy Medley, Class of 2025, Bees & Beekeeping Teaching Assistant, Agriculture/College Farm
Julia Neubauer, Class of 2027, Customer Engagement Associate, Log House Student Labor