Forming graduate unions and unionizing on-campus workplaces isn't the only kind of militancy going on at universities currently. In a wonderful development this week, students and faculty at the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI walked out in support of Teamsters Local 251, which has been on an indefinite strike since April 3.
Local 251 unionized last year in February by an overwhelming vote of 52-4, and began contract negotiations with RISD in June. These negotiations were mostly productive–but the university has completely refused to budge on the question of wages, an essential sticking point for members of the union. A major demand of Local 251 is pay of $20/hr for all workers in the union who have more than one year on the job. According to Hyperallergic, an art publication which has covered labor developments at the school, "31 of the current 61 union members make less than $16" while custodian pay averages $16.74/hr, below a living wage in Providence.
RISD has refused to budge, however. Even after a strike authorization on November 20, 2022, the school refused to entertain this proposal. An open letter which has received more than 1,400 signatories at the school and in the Providence community to date has likewise failed to move the needle among leadership at RISD. Even with three unfair labor practices filed against the university, movement has been scarce. With little other option, picketing turned to a one-day unfair labor practice strike turned to a now-indefinite strike.
This is where students and faculty have wonderfully come in. A petition by students for the university to bargain "fairly, honestly, and with full transparency" has received 2,800 signatories in just 6 days. Hyperallergic reports that "...the architecture, digital and media, and sculpture departments have all announced their solidarity with the striking Teamsters." And on Wednesday (April 12), in the biggest show of support to date, a substantial chunk of the student body–which numbers approximately 2,500–and faculty walked out in support of the Local:
(Walkouts today appear to have been similarly well attended.) RISD is even getting critiqued by politicians at this point for its obstinate position. 10 city councilors from the Providence City Council signed an open letter demanding RISD acquiesce to the union. Although it's not clear what it would take to bring RISD back to the table, the tide is unambiguously with the union at this point–and this is the clearest sign to date that what's happening at universities right now is something special.