Bargaining moves to mediation stage

By Taylor Nunley nunleyta@grinnell.edu

The collective bargaining sessions between Grinnell College and the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW) moved to mediated sessions effective April 6. As the next step in bargaining towards an agreed-upon contract, future sessions, mediated by Jim Tuecke from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, will be closed to public viewing.

UGSDW and the College’s collective bargaining teams have met three times since March 16, two of these sessions occurring during spring break. At these meetings, student data privacy and security, wages, hiring and training, hours and overtime and sanctuary campus proposals were discussed. UGSDW has also put forth their full comprehensive bargaining proposal.

UGSDW collective bargaining team proposed amendments modifying the “Diversity, Equity and Inclusion” article in the contract at the March 16 meeting. These proposals included protections for workers with disabilities, LGBTQ+ identities, religious affiliations and workers of color. The College expressed concern specifically over payroll software they may have no control over, using the example of a worker wishing to change their preferred name or pronouns. They also cited many of these proposals as already being protected under federal law.

UGSDW also brought forth a proposal allowing a two-week period of grace for student workers being trained in a new position or learning a new concept. The College said many workplaces understood student workers were being trained and generally wanted to avoid discipline for those new to a position. The College ultimately did not agree to the UGSDW’s full training proposal.

A “Sanctuary Campus” clause intended to prevent federal immigration authorities from being allowed in College workplaces was also proposed. The College argued there was no need for an article providing these protections in the contract since it is outside the scope of bargaining.

Finally, the College brought up issues with the recent work stoppage UGSDW facilitated on Wednesday, March 15. According to the College, UGSDW had put up signs saying workplaces were closed when they were not — the College also said the ultimate decision to declare a workplace as closed was up to the College.

Frank Harty for the College’s collective bargaining team said, “We will file an unfair labor practice charge if this conduct is repeated.”

In the first collective bargaining session held during spring break, the College and UGSDW discussed the hiring and training, hours and overtime and union rights clauses specifically. UGSDW’s proposal on hiring outlined desired stipulations