What do student workers around campus think about unionizing?
Luke Richter College junior: .
I don't mind unions; I think unions are good. As an RC, I thought we sort of had one because we have the ability to be on committees. Because we're on committees we get to talk about our pay. We don't get tons of say, but we have more say than CDS workers.
Andrew Bayer College junior.
It is just another ploy by the socialists to get more attention. Student workers need to unionize about as much as Bill Gates does.
Eli Holman College junior.
Basically it doesn't make any sense for our department (the Conservatory audio department). We're small, we're highly specialized, and students are the ones who would eat the cost if we get higher wages because they have to pay for the costs for junior/senior recital recordings. I don't think we have any lack of say on how things are run. I think we have a pretty good stake in how things are done.
Jerrold Sulcove College senior.
Unions are great. These are my demands or I'm striking: I think that we should have an increase in pay, health benefits and paid vacations, access to the college car, a college sponsored credit card with a low interest rate and no annual fee issued by the Oberlin College workers' credit union, a pension plan, a water cooler in the bio. department faculty room, reimbursement for expenses and a ten-year contract negotiable every two weeks.
Alex Johnston double degree fifth-year.
I don't really think we need it. I don't think we work enough hours to worry about being unionized. I'd rather buy an electric nose hair plucker than pay union dues.
Rebecca Cain double degree fifth-year.
I think that unionizing a bunch of part-time employees who only work for a few semesters is unnecessary. I think part of the reason for my view on this subject is that I'm from North Carolina, where workers are rarely unionized and things have, with some exceptions, worked well for a long time. Also, do people realize all the effort and money involved in being in a union? For the people who work only a few hours a week, union dues would take a lot of their earnings.
Jenny Coneff College sophomore.
I think it's bullshit. Student workers don't need to make much more than minimum wage because the College can't afford to pay much more than minimum wage. If wages are raised expenses for attending the college will be raised as well. CDS is raising salaries and the students are pissed that they're cutting five jobs. How else do they expect them to pay the higher cost of labor?
