A Message from Writing Center Workers on Strike

Dear Kenyon Community,

Today a majority of Writing Center Consultants, including myself, joined the CAs, ATs, and LBIS workers on an indefinite strike over unfair labor practices. We stand with our fellow student workers against the negative changes that the College has made to their working conditions, particularly the CAs being told that they are not considered employees under any “applicable labor laws.” In addition, we believe that the best way for the administration to rectify their unfair labor practices would be for them to stop standing in the way of a free and fair vote for all student workers by moving forward with an NLRB union recognition election.

Many of us in the Writing Center have had conversations about our workplace and what we want it to look like. We want to be paid a fair wage, to be compensated for mandatory training, and to have stable hours. But these changes are not just about us — they’re about the wellbeing of the Writing Center itself. When the consultants who make the Writing Center exist and function are devalued, so is the service as a whole. Likewise, investing in us is investing in the quality of the writing program at the so-called “Writer’s College.”

Our main goals for the Writing Center are as follows:

  • All training should be paid in full and encompass writing conventions across the disciplines, including both STEM and humanities;

  • Writing Center consultants should be paid at least Tier 3;

  • Hours should be consistent and substantial enough to provide a legitimate source of income.

We have had discussions with our manager about these ideas and have come to the consensus that they would be positive changes. However, the power to enact them lies beyond our direct supervisor, held by people who have not indicated any willingness to work with us. In January, they rejected our request for Tier 3 pay with no further discussion. This experience, along with the top-down decision making we have seen other student workers subjected to in other workplaces, has led us to the conclusion that the only way to enact the changes we want to see is through union representation. With a union contract, we could bargain for wage raises and better training that would improve the Writing Center not only as a workplace, but as a campus resource. A union for student workers isn’t just about materially benefitting the workers; it’s also about changing the structure of decision-making on campus to give equal voice to the people who care the most about the programs that we keep running.

We hope you will join us on Tuesday and Thursday to show your support and help us move the administration towards a resolution.

  • Picket outside Rosse Hall on Tuesday from 11:00-1:00

  • Roving picket on Thursday from 5:00-7:00 convening outside Ransom

K-SWOC at Kenyon