Community Advisors Prepare for Upcoming Union Election

The unionization efforts of Community Advisors (CAs) will culminate in their March 11 National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) election. The election will be held at the Alumni House from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the union will be certified if a simple majority of CAs vote in favor. The results will be issued by the NLRB’s Regional Director, which will then allow the bargaining process to begin. 

The process will involve the following: requesting to bargain, selecting an internal bargaining committee, entering the negotiation process, and voting to ratify their first contract once it is agreed upon by both parties.

CA organizers plan to table at Valentine Dining Hall on March 9 to distribute buttons in favor of unionization and hold a campus-wide “CA Day” on March 10, encouraging the student body to wear purple in support of their CAs. Organizers added that in accordance with election regulations, campaign materials will be removed from campus 24 hours before voting begins. They will also be posting CA testimonials on their Instagram account, @accaunion, highlighting their motivations for voting in favor of unionization.

In an interview with The Student, organizers — who elected to remain anonymous because of a contractual term stating that “CAs should not speak on behalf of the department to any media outlet” — described the election as a result of nearly three years of organizing. 

According to organizers, efforts to unionize began in the spring of 2023, but the union petition was paused in the spring of 2025 after Clark University student workers faced legal resistance upon their initial efforts to unionize. 

The union organizers helping the CAs to initiate unionization at the time advised them to temporarily pause their efforts, warning that a potential legal loss could set a precedent that could jeopardize student workers’ ability to unionize. “The last thing we wanted to do was put Amherst students at risk, or even bigger, put student unions in the country at risk,” one CA said.

The organizers instead sent a petition to the college on May 15, requesting the opportunity to negotiate the CA employment contract and create a committee composed of elected CAs, the Associate Director of Residential Engagement and Wellbeing, the Dean of Students, and the college president. They wrote to request that the committee meet once a month to discuss student and CA concerns; be presented with changes to the position and its responsibilities to have the majority of CA representatives agree upon them; as well as one confidential, all-CA staff meeting with the Dean of Students at least once a semester.

On Aug. 25, the college announced a CA advisory group, which convened on a weekly basis last semester to discuss an agenda determined by the college staff leading the meeting. Despite the college informing the CAs that its creation preceded the petition, the college did not form the requested committee.

CAs voiced their issues with this advisory group, as they felt it did not meet their needs. “We were used as if we were [being] listened to. But the administration already decided what they wanted to do before even ‘consulting’ us. Unionizing is the only way to amplify our voices,” said one CA in an anonymous testimonial to be shared on the Amherst College Community Advisors Union (ACCAU) Instagram.

Last semester, organizers began revisiting unionization and consulted lawyers and labor organizations. One CA described the process as focusing on how unionization can benefit all parties involved. “I think we did it in a very nonantagonistic way that recognizes the benefits that a union presents not just to the students, but also to the college,” they said.

This approach, they explained, reflects how a union should be involved with the student employees. “It’s not like a third-party organization coming between the employer and the employee. It actually improves relationships and makes sure that both entities are getting what they want out of the situation,” the CA said.

The organizers explained that conversations with fellow CAs consistently highlight an appreciation for the position as well as a desire for better conditions. “I hear two things: that they’re not just doing this for the money, and they wish there were less things getting in the way of the things they love about this job,” a CA said.

In their anonymous testimonial for ACCAU and The Student, one CA wrote about the lack of communication on the college’s behalf. “We are expected to pick up additional tasks that were initially not included in our contract when we agreed to work,” they said. They also discussed the “immense amounts of inequality” between CAs, with some having as few as 10 residents, while others have up to 60.

“The change[s] made to the position now makes it even more difficult to form connections with residents and help foster connections within the community,” they said. Another CA added that there is not always a clear picture of the barriers CAs encounter to “get things done” for their residents, such as a lack of timely response from supervisors, lack of purchasing powers, and the erosion of trust between CAs and residents due to new policies like Health & Safety Checks, which require CAs to briefly enter student rooms ahead of or during break periods to ensure that rooms meet the Community Living Policy. 

One CA pointed to a perceived campus culture that pressures students to accept hardships rather than speak about their issues. “I think there is this really intense culture of gratitude toward the college,” they said. This attitude, they explained, forces student employees to weigh the benefits of employment against other considerations, such as work hours and efficiency.

“You’re grateful to the college for the opportunity for this job, and you should be glad to do it … you should cover as many residents as possible, do whatever hours necessary, or have as long as meetings as possible because it should be worth it for the job itself,” they said.

Despite ongoing grievances with their working conditions, the CAs’ push to unionize remains active after the administration declined their request for voluntary union recognition on Dec. 5, 2025, advising that they pursue an NLRB election instead.

“One thing that a union would also accomplish is showing people that gratitude can coexist with an ability to advocate for yourself … those two things are not in conflict with each other,” a CA said.

As next week’s vote approaches, the movement for CAs to unionize continues to build momentum. Support from residents has grown, with some voicing their solidarity with their CAs and backing efforts to improve working conditions.  

Julia Teller ’28 shared that her reason to support the CA’s unionizing is a result of the effort her CA puts into their job. “They work super hard. My CA specifically puts on a ton of programs that are geared toward our individual interests. CAs in general … are listening ears and have always been super helpful,” she said. 

Organizers are calling on other CAs to vote on behalf of their colleagues, even if they do not see the immediate personal benefit of unionizing. “Please vote,” they said, “we hope that you voice your feelings in our election and you don’t throw away your right to advocate for yourself.”

Another CA concluded by pointing to the broader context of their efforts and urging CAs to uphold their right to self-advocacy. “Universally, across the board, laborers deserve better rights, and I don’t think we’ve achieved those yet, but we have the opportunity to do so,” they said.