Written by Kaitlyn Krueger
Designed by Sarah BalogAmerica is currently in the middle of a historic surge in labor mobilization. After decades of decline in union support, the National Labor Relations Board reports that requests to hold union elections were up 58% in the first eight months of 2022. Massive companies have begun to unionize, from Starbucks to Amazon to Condé Nast.
The students of Columbia are not just the next creative workforce of America; most students here are already working in jobs that deserve protection from employer exploitation. One of the best ways to protect yourself and your labor is by joining a union.
Unions serve a fairly straightforward function: they enable workers to negotiate for higher wages, benefits, and improved conditions within their workplace. They are democratic organizations that elect their leaders who then advocate for the wishes of the union members through collective bargaining. Collective bargaining increases the leverage of the worker, allowing them to negotiate better for benefits and increased wages.
There is a lot of misinformation out there about unions, which is targeted misinformation because of the power workers can wield once they work together as a collective force. Joining a union does not mean you will make less money, lose the ability to advance in your career, or result in you losing your job. Unions aren't just for blue-collar employees; we, the students of Columbia, have a space to join collective action with the other workers of the world, even in a creative industry.
