Unionization

'MHC Housekeepers' Wage Proposal' circulates the College's campus

'MHC Housekeepers' Wage Proposal' circulates the College's campus

A student-created petition advocating for a raise in wages for housekeepers at Mount Holyoke College has recently circulated around the community. 

On Tuesday, Oct. 10, Wilder Hall Residential Fellow Isha Chinniah ’24 posted a petition titled “Support MHC Housekeepers' Wage Proposal” to Change.org. The petition rapidly circulated on campus via student Instagram stories and social media pages, gaining the attention of hundreds in the community in just a few days. As of Oct. 20, the petition had over 500 of its desired 1000 signatures.

,

Trader Joe’s workers in Hadley organize for national contract

,
Trader Joe’s workers in Hadley organize for national contract

Nine months after successfully unionizing at a store location in Hadley, Massachusetts, the Trader Joe’s United independent labor union has continued to advocate for workers’ rights. Since becoming the first Trader Joe’s location to have a formally recognized union following a 45-31 employee vote last July, the Hadley store and its workers have served as key players in the ongoing effort to negotiate a national contract between Trader Joe’s and the workers at its over 500 locations.

, ,

Mount Holyoke's RA Collective votes 65-0 to unionize

, ,
Mount Holyoke's RA Collective votes 65-0 to unionize

Residential advisors and fellows gathered in Chapin Auditorium alongside other community members on the evening of Nov. 9 to determine the future of the Mount Holyoke Collective and their union status on campus. Officials from the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1459 chapter read aloud the individual votes to the hushed room. The silence was broken by applause when it was announced that the student workers had voted unanimously to formalize their union membership.

,

MHC Collective to vote for unionization in November

,
MHC Collective to vote for unionization in November

In the second week of November, the MHC Collective, a group of 78 Residential Advisors and Residential Fellows, will vote as to whether they will form the first student union in Mount Holyoke College’s history.

,

Mount Holyoke Residential Life student workers file for unionization

,
Mount Holyoke Residential Life student workers file for unionization

On Sept. 28, 2022, Mount Holyoke College’s residential advisors and fellows filed for union recognition with United Food & Commercial Workers Local 1459. As explained by the Mount Holyoke Collective, a campus group fighting for change for RAs and RFs, the roles of Residential Life student leaders have changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and as expectations fluctuate the group wants to ensure they have sufficient power to continue advocating for themselves.

Cart (0)