Occidental College’s commitment to its students extends well beyond traditional education through instruction, often to include enriching employment opportunities.
Students are able to participate in several dozen work options throughout the College, including those that engage their academic interests, enable participation in student government, and develop necessary skills for future employment.
The College’s commitment to equity applies to student employment, as students are offered competitive compensation and appropriate benefits. The College encourages students to have an active voice in their working conditions through engagement with supervisors and coworkers.
The College is pro-student, and not opposed to the formation of unions generally. There are aspects of the typical employee-union format that we see as potentially incompatible with the student work experience. Student jobs at Oxy often have an educational or training component, or exist to strengthen connections between students and faculty, or help students fulfill work-study requirements. These goals and connections may be strained by the presence of third-party representatives. We see the value in direct and interactive dialogue with our student workers and hope that there will be opportunities for such dialogue in the future.
The College affirmatively supports students’ right to decide whether they want to organize a union, consistent with the National Labor Relations Act. We hope that students will review all relevant information, understand unionization and how it may impact them, and fully participate in the upcoming election. Each person should decide what is best for them and be able to vote accordingly through a secret ballot election.
FAQs
The Facts
Last updated: 4/23/24
- On March 20, 2024, a group of Occidental College student workers, self-titled Rising Occidental Student Employees (ROSE), gathered on campus to demonstrate their interest in forming a union aligned with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 721.
- On March 22, a group representing ROSE presented their official request that the College voluntarily recognize the proposed bargaining unit.
- On the same date, the students filed a petition for a representative election (or RC Petition) with the National Labor Relations Board, requesting a secret-ballot election on April 16, 2024.
- The College and the Union discussed the proposed election date, location, and procedures, as well as the student positions that should be included in or excluded from the bargaining unit.
- On April 8, the College and the Union agreed to the following:
- The proposed bargaining unit consists of undergraduate students who are enrolled at and employed by Occidental College, excluding “[a]ll student workers performing work in positions/classifications in the following programs, services, or workplaces: The Green Bean; ASOC (Associated Students of Occidental College), including the SusFund, Honor Board, Diversity & Equity Board; FEAST (Food Energy and Sustainability Team); Bengal Bus; Bike Share Program; La Encina Yearbook; Oxy Design Service; Oxy TV; The Student Activity Center; KOXY Radio; The Occidental Student Newspaper; and The Oxy Programming Board. All students performing work in the Human Resources Office. All other employees, confidential employees, managerial employees and supervisors as defined by the Act.”
- The election for this bargaining unit will be on Tuesday, April 30th, 2024 at the Johnson Student Center during the following hours: 9–11 a.m., 12–3 p.m., and 4–6 p.m.
- Also on April 8, the Union filed another petition for election, seeking to represent a separate bargaining unit consisting of all student workers in ASOC and the other student-run organizations referenced above.
- The College and the Union have agreed to hold an election for both units on April 30th, 2024.