FAQs
What is a union?
A union is a group of workers coming together around a set of shared demands to bargain for a fair contract!
Can my boss or admin retaliate against me for voting yes in the upcoming election?
No. It is illegal for any party to retaliate against you for voting for union authorization, per Section 7 of the NLRA. Additionally, no one, whether the NLRB/US Government, Macalester Administration, nor MUWU has any ability to know how you vote in the election.
What are my rights as an international student?
You have the same rights, under the NLRA, to engage in protected labor activity as every student worker at Macalester, regardless of citizenship, visa, or immigration status. US Immigration agencies cannot ask you about your union membership, and membership or support of unionization will not affect your visa status. We encourage international student workers to make their voice heard through this election.
Why should I join a union if I like my job?
A union protects the things you love about your job! A union also creates a community of student workers so we all stand up for each other, which means joining the cause to help those who do have issues with their job.
Why should I care about our union?
A union will give student workers legally recognized collective power to make the changes to Macalester that we want to see. Our union can fight for higher wages for everyone, better working conditions in Cafe Mac and other difficult workplaces, better communication from managers, and other demands student workers share. We want a guarantee that every student worker is scheduled enough hours to earn their work study award and has an equal opportunity to keep working after they’ve hit that amount. We want to protect the things that are good about our jobs now. Union members have the right to an advocate in the room with them when they have disputes with managers. Our union can also fight for specific protections and benefits for marginalized students on campus.
What do I gain by joining the union?
- Control of your workplace
- A safety net of other student workers along with lawyers and other unions
- Higher wages
- Better hours
- Better communication and transparency with management
Why do Mac students need a union?
Many student jobs on campus involve intense labor, like Cafe Mac workers, RAs, facilities workers, sports medicine assistants, and more. These workers deserve to get paid more than minimum wage and to have the protection that a union comes with. We believe that the “easier” jobs on campus deserve these things as well! Everyone deserves to be paid a living wage, have autonomy over their jobs, and have a support system in place for anything that may happen.
Can the union guarantee better wages and benefits?
MUWU can only guarantee that we will fight for a living wage, better conditions, and more control over hours for all student workers. Only the college can guarantee better wages, but we know that they are not going to without pressure from us. Most student workers make minimum wage, we think you deserve better.
How long will it take to win a contract?
We hope to win a contract by the end of next semester. At some other colleges and universities where student workers have been with fierce opposition from their administrations, negotiations have taken longer than that. We plan to have a strong organization of workers ready to fight for a strong contract and hope that Macalester will bargain with us in good faith.
I want to be more involved with our union. What can I do? I have more questions, who do I contact?
Our organizing committee meets every Sunday at 3pm in Carnegie 305. You can also fill out the MUWU plan to vote form, which has an option to put you in contact with a MUWU organizer. You can also feel free to DM us on Instagram or email us at macalester.union@gmail.com.