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Welcome to labor. With the labor movement re-surging stronger than ever, there is no better time to engage in labor action.
At UF YDSA, the Labor Committee seeks to build labor organizing skills in members so that we can take on unionization and labor efforts of our own. The labor committee seeks to build skillful union organizers,whether it be now or for our jobs after graduation. Through both educational and hands on organizing opportunities, the labor committee gives members the skills needed to win themselves and their coworkers material wins.
The labor committee also works closely with the labor unions both on campus and in Alachua county broadly. When these unions engage in some action that us students can help with, the labor committee works with these unions to help in any way we can. Additionally, we use our union connections to get assistance for our own chapter campaigns.
This committee works to meet members at their organizing ability. If you want to dive directly into salting, or get started pamphlet, this committee will enable you to do so.
Workers of the world unite! We have nothing to lose but our chains.
The Unions On Campus
Made up of more than forty four hundred graduate employees, Graduate Assistants United leads labor organizing for graduate assistants on campus. They fight to give the students who teach us higher wages, family leave, housing access, health insurance, and more. UF is one of the worst schools for graduate workers, the pay is low and the benefits sparse. GAU has been fighting for 50 years to fix that. If our school is top 5, then our grad assistants deserve top 5 pay!
For more information about Graduate Assistants United, check out their web page: https://www.ufgau.org/
Established in 2002, United Campus Workers is an off shoot of the Communication Workers of America. This might sound odd - what would CWA be doing organizing student workers? While this may seem strange, it's not uncommon for sector unions to represent workers outside of their sectors.
UCW represents campus workers across the country. They have locals in Alabama, Kentucky, Georgia, and Colorado to name just a few. Here at UF, they have publicly announced that they have an organizing committee working to unionize aspects of UF, however they have yet to establish one.
UCW's website can be found here: https://ucw-cwa.org/
United Faculty of Florida is a state wide faculty union. It represents our professors and administrators. Just like how UCW is a part of CWA, UFF is a part of FEA, Florida Education Association, the teachers union.
YDSA has worked well with UFF in the past. In 2021, when the university of Florida barred professors from testifying in a state court case, YDSA worked with UFF to engage in an academic freedom struggle. Ultimately, the professors were able to testify, making the campaign a success.
UFF's website can be found here. https://myuff.org/
While not a labor union, or even localized to campus, the Alachua County Labor Coalition is an important labor organization that students should be aware of. The ACLC is made up of multiple labor organizations throughout Alachua county, including YDSA as well as the labor unions mentioned earlier.
The ACLC has made material wins for the working class of Alachua county, including wins for tenants and incarcerated people.
The ACLC's website can be found here: https://laborcoalition.org/
Unionization Toolbox
The Unionization Toolbox is currently under development. When completed, this section will link to a google drive filled with both educational and practical resources used to unionize. This will include texts that can get organizers acquainted with labor law, the requirements needed to be recognized as a union by the national labor relations board, and unionization tactics. It will also include structured documents to keep efforts focused and structured.
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