United States Senator Bernie Sanders supports New School student employees’ push to unionize, he said in a letter sent April 26th.
The letter comes a response to the upcoming vote that would allow the SENS-UAW to unionize, after several years of organizing. The group is made up of student employees who work as teaching assistants, teaching fellows and research assistants.
In the letter Sanders said, “It is not my intention to tell you how to vote,” and then goes on to discuss his experience with working with union members and the benefits that unionization has brought them. This includes the ability to negotiate legally binding contracts that cover wages, benefits and working conditions.
“Nationally, unionized workers make wages that are on average 27 percent more than non-union workers, with significantly better benefits and working arrangements,” Sanders wrote.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Congressman Jerry Nadler have also said they support the SENS-UAW vote.
The vote will be held on May 3 and 4 inside the Levinson Lobby of 6 E.16th St. from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
If the vote reaches a majority, The New School will be required to legally recognize the SENS-UAW union under the National Labor Relation Board’s decision. This will ensure that The New School meets with SENS-UAW and start to negotiate with the union.
Photo by Orlando Mendiola.
Taylor is a journalism + design junior from Florida.
