NLRB hearing concludes - Update!
Fellow student workers,
Our campaign to build the first unionized Work College at Berea may be "historic," "unprecedented," or "a testament to the energy of student-worker organizing," but that doesn't mean we stand alone. Across the country, student workers are organizing, the labor movement is seeing historic growth, and all of us are building upon a rich and diverse history of workers taking action together.
We had our hearing!
As you know, after months of organizing, we filed our petition for an election with the National Labor Relations Board/NLRB in March with a majority of student workers in support. After the College unnecessarily delayed the process, we are happy to say - we finally had our hearing! Over the course of the last week, the College and CWA called witnesses and submitted documents to get evidence on the record. Yesterday, the hearing closed. Our legal team reported that the hearing went well, and that the record supports our position that Berea student workers have the right to organize, and that a bargaining unit of all student workers is appropriate! Our witnesses’ testimony was an important part of the record.
The Next Step:
In the next step, each party will submit a brief to the NLRB by May 31. The NLRB will review the record and the briefs and issue a decision. If the NLRB agrees with our position, an election will be scheduled soon after the decision is issued. We are asking the NLRB to schedule a mail ballot election over the summer.
In the Meantime:
While they deliberate, we’ll continue organizing and getting ready to vote yes in our union election! So take a minute now: Update your mailing address here with where you’ll receive mail this summer, so that you can receive your ballot from the NLRB! If you're interested in getting involved and adding your voice to our organizing committee, let us know (email us at berea@ucw-cwa.org)! We'll be sure to keep you updated about the hearing, the election, and any upcoming events, so keep checking your email. As a reminder, you can also sign up for text alerts at the bottom of this email to receive a notification whenever we have news for you.
In solidarity,
Ellie Lintelman-Nader, Class of 2027, First Year Mentor, CELTS
Moira Claire, Berea College Alumnus, Class of 2024, NLRB Hearing Witness