In 2021, dining workers at Clarion University demonstrated remarkable solidarity during their successful campaign to win their union and bring improvements to their workplace. Nearly 100% of workers signed cards expressing their desire to join Workers United and almost as many took public action to demand recognition for their union and a fair contract.
The workers also enjoyed strong solidarity from Clarion students and faculty. In April 2021, student and faculty supporters demonstrated alongside the dining workers, demanding that the university and its food service contractor recognize the workers’ union and negotiate a fair contract prior to the start of the Fall 2021 semester. Dozens of other students and faculty who were away from campus due to the pandemic demonstrated their support for workers on social media.
In June 2021, the Clarion dining workers officially won recognition of their union. And in August, just in time for the start of the Fall semester, they ratified their first union contract, bringing what was for most workers, the highest raises they had ever enjoyed during their time working at Clarion. The contract also included, among other things, new and improved health insurance and retirement benefits, seniority rights, systems to give workers a say in workplace disputes and a fair process for handling discipline.