Student Workers at Kenyon College Go on Historic Strike

March 3, 2022 (Gambier, Ohio)- Student workers at the Kenyon Farm, accompanied by majorities amongst Gund Gallery Associates, Wright Center student workers, Horn Gallery student workers, Community Advisors, language Apprentice Teachers, and Writing Center Consultants, went on strike on March 3, 2022 over unfair labor practices. This is the second undergraduate student-labor strike over unfair labor practices in the United States, the first of which was also by Kenyon student workers. A total of 190 student workers opted to participate in the historic strike.

Student workers are voicing frustration with the current system of student labor at Kenyon College and unilateral decision making by the administration, specifically the decision to disband the residential program at the Kenyon Farm. This decision is believed to be retaliatory in light of the Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee (K-SWOC/UE)’s filing with the National Labor Relations Board for union certification election in October of 2021 as well as worker organizing within the Farm workplace.

“I am striking over unfair labor practices both as a farmer and as an AT. I want to ensure worker input in decisions impacting their jobs. A union is the only way to ensure that decisions about the farm program are made by the people who care for the animals and plant the crops.” Lynn Butzlaff '22, Farmer & German Apprentice Teacher

“I’ve lived at the farm for two and a half years now, and the farm is my home. When our manager stopped showing up in 2021, we stepped up and made the farm our own. The farmhouse is the lifeblood of the farm; it's where we hang our art, retreat from a cold’s morning chores, and cook meals with food we grew and raised. We deserve agency in our workplaces, the farm and beyond." Rose Cobb ‘22, Farmer

“I’m striking because I believe in the enrichment that the Kenyon Farm brings to our community, similar to my workplace, the Gund Gallery. Without supporting programs like these our college would not be the holistic place it is today.” Emma Kang ‘25, Gund Gallery Associate

Student-workers at Kenyon College have been organizing with the Kenyon Student Worker Organizing Committee (K-SWOC/UE) since March of 2020. Since then, Kenyon College has denied proposals for two different forms of voluntary recognition and is currently fighting K-SWOC’s petition for NLRB certification election and attempting to overturn the rights of undergraduate and graduate student workers at private institutions under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) altogether.