One previous Bobcat discusses her experiences with a student worker union on campus and applauds the Phonathon employees.
Student workers of the Phonathon, congratulations! By deciding to hold an election to form a union, you've already come a long way in winning better working conditions for yourselves. It's something that many of your professors have dreamed of and something that many Ohio University workers already enjoy the benefits of. Please, from one Bobcat to another, do not be intimidated by your boss's decision to bring in professional union busters to try and divide you from your co-workers. If your bosses have the money to hire an outside firm (International Labor Relations), then surely they have the money to pay you more, and surely they are comfortable with third parties in the workplace, and they should be able to cope just fine with the local union.
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Full disclosure, I'm a biased party. I was a student worker for 3 years at OU. Like a phonathon worker, I also performed a vital task for the university, instead of fundraising, I provided resources to underclass students as a resident assistant. Again, like a phonathon worker, I was underpaid and mistreated. In the fall of my senior year, my friends and I were fed up with being treated like second-class citizens. So, we started to organize ourselves into a union. And while there is as of yet not an RA union, things have still improved dramatically for the RA's. The union drive won RA's a raise, it has also won dozens of RA's their jobs back after being wrongfully let go. Unions have real benefits for workers, you need look no further than the residence halls. This is a historic moment in OU's history, as an alumna I couldn't be more proud. Talk about an actual reason to give to this university. For the sake of your fellow students and student workers all across the university, vote yes for the union, because it's about time students stood up and started affirming our own power in this 'Bobcat family.'
Jessica Lindner is an alumna of Ohio University.
