By Staff
On Thursday, January 25, thousands of student workers within the California State University system initiated the voting process to establish a statewide union. According to students, the compensation for their on-campus jobs is often lower than what they could earn in off-campus positions, making it challenging to meet their financial needs.
This week, Cal State University solidified an agreement with the California Faculty Association. Now, students are expressing a longing to exert comparable bargaining influence to that of teachers and other campus employees. The decision on whether to form a union will rest in the hands of over 17,000 student workers in the coming month, with voting open until mid-February.
Emilio Carrasco, a student assistant and union organizer at Fresno State, highlighted the potential impact on students’ lives. He states, “With me, or a lot of students working office jobs, I think just even making like $1.50 more an hour could make a huge difference”. Carrasco explained that many students opt for on-campus employment due to a lack of transportation for off-campus jobs. With a limit of 20 hours per week, no sick pay, and the escalating cost of living and tuition, students’ academic success is under strain. “If we’re able to extend the amount of hours we’re able to work, that could be the difference between a student having to work two jobs or just their one student assistant job,” Carrasco added.
As the voting period stretches until mid-February, the future of the union initiative remains uncertain for the 17,000 student workers in the California State University system. Students yearn for fair compensation and improved working conditions, hoping to establish a collective voice for their concerns.
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