Grinnell College has enormous respect for student workers and the important roles they play for our entire community.
The College’s mission is to provide an education in the liberal arts through free inquiry and the open exchange of ideas. The College’s Core Values are:
- Excellence in Education for Students in the Liberal Arts
- A Diverse Community
- Social Responsibility
History
Consistent with these values, the College did not oppose the efforts to form a union to represent student dining services workers in March 2016. Union certification elections were held on May 5, 2016, and the Union of Grinnell Student Dining Workers (UGSDW) became the first independent union for undergraduate students in the country.
In February 2022, student leaders of UGSDW and College leadership began negotiations to enter a Neutrality Agreement establishing terms for an election to expand the union to most student employees. That agreement was signed on March 4, 2022. At the same time, UGSDW and the College entered into a Consent Election Agreement.
On April 26, 2022, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) announced the outcome of the UGSDW union expansion election. The results counted 333 eligible ballots from 721 eligible voters, with 327 voting for expansion and 6 voting against; while 6 ballots were deemed not eligible by the NLRB and 2 ballots were challenged. The NRLB’s certification of results created a new bargaining unit.