California State University undergraduate workers voted to join a union as part of an effort to negotiate with the system for better pay, sick time and other benefits.
In total, 7,252 student workers submitted ballots from Jan. 25 to Feb. 22, with 7,050 voting to unionize, according to the California Public Employment Relations Board.
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Driving the news: The student workers, who are currently paid the state minimum wage of $16.25 per hour, do not receive paid sick leave and are limited to working a maximum of 20 hours per week.
- The unionization effort by the university’s 20,000 student assistants was supported by organized campaigns and a petition with thousands of signatures submitted last April.
- They will join CSUEU/SEIU Local 2579.
What they’re saying: CSU Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, Leora Freedman, stated that the university respects the decision of the student assistants to unionize and looks forward to bargaining with the newly formed CSUEU student assistant unit.
