Welcome to Beloit Student Workers United (BSWU) Local 416’s first Round Table column! Our goal is to use this space as a semi-regular way to keep all of you — student workers, both current and potential, as well as all Beloit College community members — informed about both what we as a leadership are thinking and planning, and about what all of our members are doing/feeling. We will include things such as upcoming meetings and events, initiatives we are starting up, ways all of you can get engaged, and so much more. Our most up-to-date information will be through our Instagram (@bswunited), email (bswunited@gmail.com), and GroupMe.
Before we get into all of that, we need to share who the “we” is. Above all, BSWU is all of our student workers on campus — the hundreds of students who hold a campus job at some point in their four years. With that said, there is an elected Leadership Team that does more of the executive work of our union: Jake Fein’27 (External Organizing Lead), Sam McCullough’29 (Art + Social Lead), Demir Kasapoğlu’28 (Co-Steward Lead), Lia Dirks’27 (Events Lead), Palash Mamtaney’28 (Co-Steward Lead), and Thomas Fleming’27 (Internal Organizing Lead).
Our team will also include Shop Stewards — union representatives for specific workplaces; Labor Management Committee (LMC) members — represents the union in monthly meetings with the college; Political Committee — helps advise the union on our political direction and action(s); Election Committee — 1-3 members who run union elections; Arts + Social Team; Events Team.
Some Updates:
As some of you may already know, there have been some changes with BSWU and our relationship with the college. Over the summer, we affiliated with Workers United and are now more connected than ever to all sorts of resources to help fight for all our members. There has also been a change in who is leading the college’s union interaction. The previous director of Human Resources, Hope Ballentine, is no longer at the college. The new director is Michael Meteyard.
Looking Forward:
Some events we will be having in the next few weeks to look forward to are movie night, drop-in hours, and an awesome event on Oct. 8th. Over the next few weeks, we will also be having steward elections in various workplaces, so look forward to communication about that if you work on campus. The last thing that we would like to put in every student’s mind is that in May, BSWU will begin our contract negotiations for our second contract. Official planning will begin next semester, but if there are already things you know should be brought up around the upcoming contract, you can reach out to us or keep it in mind until the spring semester.
Joining the Union:
The current goal of BSWU is to increase our official membership. Anyone who is currently working on campus, or considering working on campus, can join using the link on our IG or by scanning QR codes that will be across campus. Becoming a member of BSWU gives people access to so many benefits — from having voting power in our elections, endorsements, and union actions, to merch, fun events, lost time compensation (paid) engagement opportunities, and so much more. Joining the union is also a way of showcasing the power we have!
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