Our Statement in Response to College's Refusal to Recognize KSWOC

DECEMBER 11, 2020 (Gambier, OH) -- Kenyon students and employees received a News Bulletin detailing the College’s Board of Trustees’ refusal to voluntarily recognize the Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee as a union. The Committee’s statement follows:

After eight months of self-advocacy for our shared workplace interests, the Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee is frustrated but not deterred by the Board of Trustees’ refusal to recognize our union. The response shows a disappointing lack of engagement with the basis of unions and collective bargaining, rather than commitment to all members of the Kenyon community. 

Rejecting a demand for voluntary recognition with extremely short forewarning signals a concerted union-busting effort on behalf of the employer, Kenyon College. Despite this continued disrespect for student workers at Kenyon, K-SWOC will not stop working to strengthen workers’ rights at Kenyon College.*

The Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee currently represents the majority of student workers who have signed union cards and a significant portion of the student body overall. Further, numerous undergraduate and graduate unions have written in favor of K-SWOC, elected officials have endorsed K-SWOC, and around 300+ alumni have addressed an open letter demanding recognition of K-SWOC. These actions were done for the sake of strengthening democracy and equity in the Kenyon workplace.

We agree that the strong personal relationships between faculty and students are central to the Kenyon community, and appreciate the 57 faculty members who have signed a letter stating that they do not believe that a union would threaten this vital aspect of our shared educational experience.

The formation of a student union represents the democratic will of the Kenyon community and a majority of student workers. Through this current decision, Kenyon College has demonstrated their comfort with non-democratic workplaces, unfair pay, and underrepresentation of the student body during key decisions. We will not be discouraged from fighting for recognition of our union and continuing to advocate for ourselves as student workers.

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Editor’s note: A previously circulated version of our statement included imprecise language about Campus Senate’s connection to the Board of Trustees’ decision. We apologize for the error.