Press Release
Gavilan College and Gavilan Student Workers Union Make History with First Community
College Student Workers Union in the Nation
Gilroy, Calif. | May4, 2026
Gavilan College and the Gavilan Student Workers Union (GSWU) have jointly announced
that the College has recognized GSWU as the exclusive representative of student worker
employees of the Gavilan Joint Community College District. This is the first time a
community college student workers union has been voluntarily recognized in the United
States.
The bargaining unit includes all classifications of student workers, including but not limited
to peer tutors, peer mentors, and departmental support assignments. GSWU will represent
student workers as the exclusive representative in future collective bargaining agreements
with the College regarding compensation, benefits, and working conditions.
“Having been a student worker myself, I understand the importance of providing good
working conditions so that students can have jobs that keep them on campus and allow
them to focus on their education without the burden of additional commutes,” said Gavilan
College Superintendent/President Dr. Pedro Avila. “On-campus employment significantly
boosts student retention by increasing engagement, belonging, and institutional identity
and fosters better academic performance than off-campus work. We are looking forward to
working collaboratively with them to maintain Gavilan as a place where both students and
employees can thrive.”
“We are proud to be the first community college student workers union in the nation, but
this victory is bigger than Gavilan,” said Interim Vice President Payam Barghi. “We are the
first, not the last, and we hope GSWU serves as a model for student workers across the
country and shows them what is possible.”
Prior to the formation of a formal student employee union, there was already a developing
relationship of collaboration between student workers and College administration.
Together, they worked to improve conditions for student workers by securing a 17 percent
increase in hourly pay for all student workers, a one-time $480 payment for all eligible
student workers, and free parking for student workers.
“This is an empowering first step for workers. Not only does it give them the confidence
that their voices will be heard, but it paves the way for collaborative work between
community colleges and their student workers across the country. It shows everyone
involved that student work is real work,” said Interim President Alyssa De Jesus
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!
– Gavilan Student Workers Union Organizing Committee
STUDENT WORK IS REAL WORK!