We are interviewing Lilly R, a socialist activist and an undergraduate student and worker at Clark University in Worcester, MA. Undergraduate workers are currently trying to organize a union with Teamsters Local 170. Graduate workers have already organized at Clark with the Teamsters union, going on strike three years ago in order to secure a first contract.
Lilly, the Teamsters have stated that there are 620 undergraduate workers at Clark University. Could you please explain what sort of jobs undergrad workers do at the school?
We do all sorts of things for the school. We pick up trash and recycling, lead tours, help teach classes, work in labs and the library, provide IT support and staff info desks.
What do wages, benefits, and hours look like for undergrad workers?
My job makes minimum wage, and I work 12 hours a week. Other students work anywhere from two hours a week to 25. Other positions may pay more than minimum wage, but I’m not sure. There aren’t any other benefits.
What would you say are the main issues that undergrad workers face? What are they hoping to secure most in a union contract?
With college and the cost of living rising, we want higher pay to match that. We also want more safety precautions or workers’ comp for grounds crew, which works with golf carts and trash compactors. Students in some positions can barely get done all of their assigned work, so we want to lower their workload, as well as creating more jobs for students with work study. Many students at Clark are awarded work study money from the federal government but can’t access it because there aren’t enough jobs on campus for them. This money comes from the federal government, so the school has nothing to lose by opening up more jobs. My brother is at a school that values its undergrad workers and providing needed financial aid, so they make sure that they always have jobs available for student workers beyond the bare minimum to keep the school functioning.
How would you respond to the claim that undergrads don’t produce much value for the university and therefore don’t deserve a raise? How about the claim that jobs for undergrads are primarily career training and not necessary for undergrads to secure housing, food, and other necessities?
That’s BS. Student workers are the reason that trash doesn’t pile up in dorms, that Clark can attract new students, and that students and staff can use the technology they need for class, among other things. Many buildings require visitors to sign in after hours, so student workers are the only reason anyone can access those buildings.
Clark might claim they could convince students to volunteer for some of the positions under the guise of experience, but that wouldn’t cover anywhere near what the school needs to run.
Students don’t just work for fun- we need the money. College and the cost of living are only going up, and even if we have families who can help support us, they can’t do it all. For one of my coworkers, one shift a week is the difference in whether or not she can make rent at the end of the month. Work study is included in financial aid awards with the understanding that students need it in order to afford college. Anyway, they’re barely career training: most jobs on campus are completely unrelated to the majors students are pursuing.
Is the university getting more expensive? Do you think undergrads rely on their university jobs to help pay for their education?
College is getting more and more expensive every year, with higher loans and a job market that asks for even higher levels of degrees for “entry-level” positions. I talked about work study earlier, but without the money from on campus jobs, many students wouldn’t be able to afford tuition or living costs.
How should other undergrads help? How should graduate workers help? How can Clark alumni and family members of students help? How can the broader community help?
There are lots of things people can do to help! Anyone can show up to the picket line to support us, even if they’re not undergrad workers. All undergrad workers are encouraged to strike, but if they can’t strike for whatever reason, they should avoid scabbing by taking shifts from striking workers. Students who are on the board of clubs should cancel any events they are doing as part of Destination Clark to affect public image. Clark alumni can contact the alumni office to withhold donations, and encourage other alumni to do the same. People who are members of other unions should make sure not to cross the picket line, including grad students. Supporters can also donate to the See You Collective and FIRM, who are providing monetary and food support for workers. Finally, they can contact the admin and the board of trustees to pressure them into signing a card check neutrality agreement. Don’t stay silent and let them think that it’s ok to prevent undergrads from unionizing!
More info on how to support the striking Clark University undergraduate workers here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DHIqozQR_xL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
Independent Socialist Group 