Ezra Lanoue

Campuses: UK and Berea
I’m excited to be a staff organizer for your union and to be working with you to grow the membership, develop members into union leaders, and win better working conditions for KY higher ed!
I joined UCW-KY in the Fall of 2022 as a founding undergraduate member of our Berea College chapter. At Berea I worked as an office assistant, a TA, a janitor, and an RA. In every position I worked I saw my fellow workers afraid to speak up about issues that impacted their safety, well-being, and ability to do their jobs. When workers spoke up, they were labeled as troublemakers, isolated, and/or pushed out of their positions. I was afraid to speak up too much, too, and I spent a lot of time putting my head down and trying to get through the day.
Joining UCW was transformational for me because I saw that the issues I faced at Berea were the same issues my fellow workers were facing across the state. I saw that other people were organizing to confront the same challenges that I wanted to tackle, and that other people believed in a world where everyone has dignity, good jobs, and a voice at work. UCW members inspired me to keep fighting, growing as an organizer, and never give up!
Your union is as strong as you and your fellow members are active.