5C climate rally transcends generational lines to push for policy change

On Friday, Sept. 15, more than 40 students, faculty and residents of Claremont gathered on Walker Beach for a climate rally in coordination with protests planned around 54 countries. As a part of the September 15 Day Against Climate rally led by the Fridays for Future campaign, rally organizers and

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Community activism triumphs: Pitzer workers Jose ‘Pepe’ Vázquez and Gregorio Reyes rehired following termination as new union contract brings more worker protections

Early last week, workers at Pitzer College entered their first union contract with the school, following months of arbitration and over two years of wins and setbacks while organizing. With their three-year contract in effect Sept. 4, Pitzer staff now have annual salary increases, respected seniority and union safeguards against

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Where are the PZ 3? Wins, losses and the fight still to come

When UNITE HERE! Local 11 representatives Natasha Wong and Noel Rodriguez informed fired workers Stephanie Smith, Alexis Ongpoy and Kevin Ayala that they had been offered jobs on May 11, the news spread quickly throughout the Claremont community. The offers of employment for the former workers, known as the PZ

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CSWA demonstrations disrupt Pitzer’s Admitted Students Day, demand rehiring

On Saturday, April 15, members of the Claremont Student & Worker Alliance (CSWA) organized a series of demonstrations at Pitzer College’s Admitted Students Day. These demonstrations are the latest in CSWA’s campaign to demand that the college hire three former subcontracted dining workers who allege they were laid off due

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Pitzer community celebrates ties to César Chávez at annual breakfast

Hosted by the Latino & Latina Roundtable of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valley, the Cesar Chavez 19th annual Breakfast honored Pitzer College Workers and Student Alliance, among other organizations and individuals who have exemplified the Roundtable’s mission “to improve the quality of life and socio-economic justice of the Latinx community and those facing inequities.” Pitzer students and workers were celebrated for their successful union campaign and for ongoing efforts to rehire three subcontracted dining workers who were fired for expressing union support. Many of the students honored were students of Pitzer Professor Jose Calderon, who as the Roundtable’s President, helped organize the breakfast and fundraiser.

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CSWA hosts second McConnell Boycott

By 5:02 p.m. on Tuesday, April 4, over 25 5C students had picketed both entrances to Pitzer College’s McConnell Dining Hall to protest the firing of three former dining workers: Stephanie Smith, Alexis Ongpoy and Kevin Ayala. The boycott was organized by members of student organization Claremont Student Worker Alliance

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Calling Pitzer to hire three former subcontracted dining workers, CSWA increases student activism

This week, members of the Claremont Student Worker Alliance (CSWA) escalated actions at Pitzer College in support of three former subcontracted dining workers who allege they were terminated from their positions in retaliation for expressing union support.  CSWA has organized a student-led campaign to demand that Pitzer hire Stephanie Smith,

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University of La Verne dining hall workers vote to authorize a strike, 5C students organize support

University of La Verne dining hall workers voted on Feb. 28 to authorize a strike for the first time in the university’s history.   ULV’s workers are organized under UNITE HERE Local 11, the same labor union that has represented the dining hall workers at Pomona College since 2010. ULV has

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Intimidation, surveillance and unlawful termination: new ULPs allege subcontracted workers take brunt of Pitzer’s union busting

In a series of demonstrations throughout the week, dozens of Claremont College students, Pitzer College workers and union leaders called Pitzer administrators’ and trustees’ attention to an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) filed by the union Tuesday. The protesters alleged the college broke federal labor law by discharging two dining workers who supported the union.

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