Know Your Rights

Understanding your legal protections is the foundation of effective organizing.

📜

Right to Organize

Under California's Educational Employment Relations Act (EERA), student workers at community colleges have the legal right to organize and form unions. This right is protected by state law.

🚫

Protection from Retaliation

It is illegal for CCSF to fire, discipline, cut hours, or retaliate against you for union activity. We are protected by state law. If you experience retaliation, document it and contact us immediately.

💬

Right to Discuss Wages

You have the legal right to discuss your wages with coworkers. Employers cannot prohibit these conversations or retaliate against you for having them.

The Data

Research-backed facts about student worker conditions and the benefits of unionization.

The Crisis: You Cannot Live on These Wages

At $19.18/hour with a 15 hour/week cap, our max monthly income is $1,151—while average SF studio rent is over $2,000. We can't even afford rent, let alone food, books, and transportation.


Read Full Report

What Union Workers Win

UC student workers organized and won $28-34/hour. CSU student workers won $18-22/hour with regular increases. Gavilan College student workers are organizing right now.


See Research

Zero Job Security

We're "at-will" employees who can be fired at any time without cause. We're automatically terminated every semester, limited to 4 semesters per department, with no grievance procedure.


Learn More

Historical Context

Student worker organizing is part of a proud tradition of labor activism.

Student Workers Across California

Graduate students at UC schools won union recognition in the 1990s. Today, UAW represents over 48,000 academic workers across the UC system, winning historic contracts through collective action.

The 2022 UC Strike

In November 2022, 48,000 UC academic workers staged the largest higher education strike in US history, winning significant wage increases and workplace improvements.

Community College Workers

Student workers at community colleges across California are increasingly organizing, recognizing that collective bargaining is the most effective way to improve conditions.

Have Questions?

Our organizing committee is here to help. Reach out to learn more about your rights and how to get involved.

Contact Us