Student workers at Occidental College who say they’re grappling with low wages, inconsistent hours and job insecurity rallied for better working conditions on Wednesday, March 20, part of a larger campaign to unionize.
Hundreds of teaching assistants, researchers, baristas, tutors, lifeguards and others descended on the campus quad to demand the college agree to a fair process for recognizing their union.
The groups have launched a campaign to unionize with SEIU Local 721.
Olivia Plumb, a sophomore teaching assistant who’s studying biology at Occidental, earns $16.78 hourly in a work-study program that limits her hours to 10 weekly. The wage, the city’s minimum, is rising to $17.28 on July 1.
Plumb lives in a dorm and uses the money for textbooks, groceries and other needs. Despite a good relationship with her supervisor, she feels the school is exploiting students with low wages.
“I’ve talked to others in the work-study program who feel disrespected by their supervisors,” the 20-year-old LA resident said. “As a whole, I feel we’re not being taken seriously by the college.”
Siena Cawrse also lives in a dorm and relies on work-study wages to help pay for textbooks and other essentials. They’re also not getting many work hours.
“I’m only getting 5 hours a week,” the 19-year-old student said. “I’m available, but they’re not scheduling me.”
Cawrse said the work-study pay has made it tough to get by.
“I need to live, and 5 hours is not enough,” they said. “If the pay was higher, I wouldn’t be in such a sticky situation where I feel like I need to save and conserve so much.”
In a statement issued Tuesday, Occidental College said its commitment to equity applies to student employment, as students are offered competitive compensation and appropriate benefits.
“Although the college has not heard directly from students about any specific concerns, we welcome an opportunity to discuss any issues with them,”…
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