GSWU

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Gavilan Student Workers Union Newsletter

Issue Two

A Reason to Believe

            With the rise of tech layoffs in Silicon Valley and the increasing cost of essential goods, we have all become acutely aware of the worsening material conditions of workers across the country. The issues pertaining to student workers, especially with regards to compensation, job security, and other working conditions, are not separate from these struggles. As these problems are a symptom of the system, we believe the natural solution is to advocate for ourselves and our fellow workers by organizing and forming a labor union. This action guarantees student workers a legitimate opportunity to improve working conditions in the present and future. Our confidence in organizing and collaborating to create meaningful change has only grown stronger in the last year.

           Since December 2024, members of the organizing committee have collaborated with student workers in advocating for urgent changes to the wage schedule at Gavilan College. Through a multi-stage negotiation process, shared governance, and good faith by Gavilan administration; we won an approximate 17% raise for ALL student workers. This also included a one-time payment for all active workers over the Spring semester. We believe that this is just the beginning of the changing relationship between student workers and community colleges. This serves as a great example of the power in organized efforts to improve conditions for all. 

           Organizing a union will provide a systemic solution to a systemic issue. We believe the only way to effectively create lasting change is to build this organization of accountability and advocacy. All student workers deserve dignified compensation, job security, and a say in policy revolving their jobs. 

           We believe we will create the blueprint for student workers across the community college system to unionize. We believe that Student Work is Real Work!

                -Gavilan Student Workers Union Organizing Committee

Issue One

Why Are We Here?

           The Gavilan Student Workers Union stands, first and foremost, in solidarity with all
student workers on a human level. We are driven by the compassion we all share for our fellow workers.
          Gavilan College is a special place, due mainly to all of our individual and collaborative efforts. By making us feel as though our voices matter as students, Gavilan has empowered us, and because of this, we feel that we need to establish a permanent system of accountability and advocacy for the student workers.

          We love our jobs on campus – it is incredibly fulfilling to be in positions that help our peers succeed – and while we are constantly told that we are vital to the academic process, we don’t feel that in our compensation. The highest possible wage as a student worker still falls below the California fast-food worker minimum wage of $20 an hour. We do not feel this is fair, especially given that many student workers have to work multiple jobs just to have their basic needs met. This is an injustice, especially when considering that we are made up of mostly full-time students.
           Being united as student workers will not only allow us to stand together to fight for
important changes, such as proper wages – it will provide an added layer of job protection for all of us. No student worker should have to deal with grievances on their own, and GSWU will guarantee that we have a dedicated team to assist with these issues. As students, we can use our voices to advocate for change, as we have done for free student worker parking and increasing wages, but without a union, these wages will become stagnant, and the policies will become subject to change. The union will have contract negotiations to gain guarantees and keep up with the needs of student workers. Systemic issues can only be addressed through systemic change, and our solution is a union!

Student Work is Real Work!

What Are We Working Toward?

We are demanding better conditions for our student workers, including:

1. Higher wages that keep up with the economic changes in our society. Our current demand is an immediate 3$ increase for all student workers.
2. Job Protection: There should be a common sense process for termination that includes
   multiple documented reports and a formal sit down. In the current student worker
   handbook we are NOT guaranteed any of this!
3. Paid Sick/Mental Health Leave: Sick pay should align with the hours worked limitation, from 1.0 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, to 1.0 sick leave hours for every 20 hours worked. Access to 12 hours of sick pay should be available on the 90th day of employment, and 5 hours of mental health leave a semester should also be made available after the 45th day of employment.
4. Holiday Pay: We shouldn’t miss out on pay if the campus is closed. Our bills don’t make this exception for us! 
5. Free Student Worker Parking: since COVID increased the amount of asynchronous and
   online classes available, many of us are only driving to school for our shifts. We should
   not have to pay to come to work.
6. Inclusive Communication from the School: As it stands, student workers have no say in changes to school policy that affect our lives. We should, at the very least, be given two months notice and an opportunity to collaborate with the school on student worker related policy.
   .

What Are We Doing to Bring About Change?

           For months, the organizing committee has made preparations to begin the process of unionizing. Forming a union is a democratic process; as such, a team of student workers will be reaching out to answer any questions that may be had about the union, so everyone feels secure and has access to the same information. We will then be going around and gathering union cards signed by student workers until we have a majority. Once this process takes place, we have a legal right to go to an election with California’s Public Employment Relations Board (PERB).

           Unions are on the rise in America, with nearly 80% of union elections won in 2024. The CSU student workers recently won their election at a staggering 97% “yes” vote. Right now, we have the opportunity to guarantee better working conditions for Gavilan student workers in the present and future. We are in a powerful position to make meaningful lasting change, and to create a structure that continues to support the wellbeing of workers for years to come.