Wesleyan Union of Student Employees wins historic first contract
Middletown, CT — Undergrad Residential Life workers at Wesleyan University, who won their union in March of 2022, unanimously ratified their first union contract today. WesUSE is represented by the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU) Local 153 based in the tristate area. Local 153 has led the way with undergrad student worker organizing in 2022, winning unions at Wesleyan University, Barnard University, and Tufts University.
WesUSE’s ratification is historic: they are the first union of undergrad ResLife workers at a private university to win a contract. The bargaining committee comprised leaders of the student worker union and a representative from OPEIU Local 153. The group met over the summer break and consistently throughout the first semester of the 2022-2023 school year to win the raises and improvements the workers deserve as quickly as possible. Having the contract in place for the entirety of the second semester is a momentous victory.
Among others, here are some of the biggest wins:
Certified dues check-off
New union member orientation during RA training
Non-discrimination clause prohibiting the University from discriminating against any worker for any reason
Compliance with updated ADA policies
Sanctuary campus status guaranteeing the University will require immigration agents to comply with all legal requirements before ever interacting with workers
Establishment of a labor-management committee
Just cause protections
Equitable and transparent grievance and arbitration procedures
Seniority pay, per diem, and significant increases to annual stipends
Establishment of holidays
Health and safety protections
Follow WesUSE on Twitter (@wes_use) and Instagram (@wes.use) for more updates.
OPEIU Local 153, a local of the Office and Professional Employees International Union, represents employees in nonprofit organizations, technology, credit unions, hospitals, insurance agencies, colleges and universities, hotels, administrative offices and more. OPEIU is committed to advancing economic justice for working people no matter their occupation. Most recently, OPEIU Local 153 successfully won a union with the Wesleyan University Residential Life student workers and Barnard University RAs.