Several California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) faculty and staff members made a bold move by hand-delivering a letter signed by 64 employees to the office of President Ravi Rajan on Tuesday, December 3. This action signaled their intent to unionize with the overwhelming support of 75% of staff members. The employees of the prestigious Santa Clarita art school publicly announced their plan to unionize under the name CalArts United-United Auto Workers (UAW) on Instagram on November 18.
Rodrigo Arruda, an assistant director in admissions at CalArts, expressed the challenges faced by many staff members, including low pay, unstable benefits, and a lack of job security. He highlighted the stagnant salaries, increasing workloads, and the absence of meaningful recourse in cases of harassment and discrimination. With over 900 undergraduate students enrolled in various visual and performing arts programs at CalArts, the need for fair treatment of faculty and staff members is crucial.
Patrick Schmid, an assistant director of admissions at CalArts and an alum, shared his observations of the deteriorating conditions for staff, faculty, and students since joining the institution in 2019. He mentioned that staff members have been burdened with additional responsibilities due to layoffs during restructuring, leading to a situation where many juggle multiple roles without relief. The growing workload, coupled with stagnant pay and inaccessible health benefits, has created serious health and financial challenges for employees like Schmid.
The CalArts United-UAW group mobilized employees across various schools within the institute to sign authorization cards indicating their support for union representation. With a supermajority of staff now backing the union, the group is considering filing for an election with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) if President Rajan does not voluntarily recognize the union by the end of the semester. The group is requesting a meeting with him before December 10 to discuss their concerns.
In response, a spokesperson for CalArts emphasized the institution’s commitment to maintaining a supportive and collaborative environment for students and all members of the community. While they support the employees’ right to determine the benefits of unionization for themselves, they believe that a secret ballot election conducted by the NLRB is the best way to ensure a fair process.
The formation of the CalArts United-UAW union aligns with similar organizing efforts at private educational institutions like the University of Southern California (USC), New York Film Academy (NYFA), and Columbia University. These unions have successfully negotiated increases in salaries, wages, and discrimination protections for their members. The actions of these unions have led to positive outcomes, demonstrating the potential for collective bargaining to bring about tangible improvements in working conditions.
As the situation unfolds at CalArts, employees like Schmid are hopeful that the administration will prioritize the well-being of the community and make meaningful changes to support the dignity of all members. The strong support for unionization reflects a shared commitment among staff and faculty to advocate for fair treatment and improved working conditions at CalArts.
