Members of MUWU marched on their boss, who was in a meeting inside the campus center, to deliver a petition May 2
Newly unionized student workers at Macalester College in St. Paul marched on their boss May 2 after the school abruptly changed terms of employment covering many in the bargaining unit of 1,100.
The Macalester Undergraduate Workers Union (MUWU) alleges that its members showed up to work at the Leonard Center – an athletics and wellness facility and the campus’ largest student employer – in April and were told their hours had been cut.
The announcement came with no warning, and the administration did not consult with the student workers’ newly recognized union.
“They showed up to their shifts and found out that they were canceled,” MUWU spokesperson Xavier Honer said.
Macalester student workers voted overwhelmingly to unionize in February, but MUWU has yet to negotiate a contract with the college. Federal labor law requires employers to maintain the “status quo” of a newly organized bargaining unit’s terms and conditions of employment as the two sides work toward a first contract.
Macalester violated labor law by canceling shifts at the Leonard Center, MUWU alleges, and by announcing that the college would no longer allow students whose financial-aid packages do not include work-study employment to apply for work-study-eligible jobs, as they have in the past.
“A lot of people that had jobs are going to lose jobs next semester under this new policy,” Honer said. “It’s illegal because it’s a change, but also because it would shrink our bargaining unit.”
Student workers at Macalester allege that their shifts have been shortened and work rules altered since they voted to form a union in February. A spokesperson said the union is prepared to file charges with the National Labor Relations Board.
At the rally May 2, student workers attempted to deliver a petition demanding the college bargain with MUWU over those changes – and demanding the drop efforts to exclude some student workers from the bargaining unit – to Macalester Vice President of Administration and Finance Patricia Langer.
Over 50 student workers marched into the campus center and climbed the stairs to the second floor, where Langer was in a meeting. She initially refused to accept their petition, and student workers began chanting and reading the petition aloud.
Outside the campus center, dozens of alumni and supporters from the labor community gathered to show their solidarity with MUWU.
“I’m not willing to say that (the administration’s change to employment terms) was retaliatory, but I think that regardless of how they meant it, this was a test,” Honer said. “And we came out strong and showed them that we’re not going to sit around while they break the law.”
The fledgling union is asking alumni and community supporters to sign up for updates on how they can show solidarity with MUWU’s contract campaign.
Find a link to sign up at muwu.org.
– Michael Moore, UA editor
Union Advocate 