The UC Berkeley Labor Center led a cohort of 20 students for the third annual Solidarity Spring– three packed days that immersed students in the local labor movement and connected them with active campaigns.
During the ‘alternative spring break’ in March, students learned about local labor campaigns, workplace safety, organizing and art. Following workshops at the Labor Center, they headed to the streets to witness and participate in the movement in action.
Yasin Khan from the UC Berkeley Labor Occupational Health Program led students through an interactive workplace safety presentation. Student and labor organizer, Taylor Valci, walked students through the Philz Coffee United unionization efforts, and the Labor Center Senior Trainer, Beatriz Herrera, taught on indigeneity and labor in Mexican and Chicano History.
Students also learned about the connections between tenant, labor, and community organizing. Brad Hirn, a Practitioner in Residence at the Labor Center, taught students about tenant efforts to organize in the Bay Area.
On the following day, students lent their support to the 14th Street Tenant Association, a group of residents organizing to demand better living conditions within their building.
They picketed outside a rental complex on 14th Street in San Francisco while waiting for the building owner’s representatives to arrive, chanting in English and Spanish.
“It felt so good to chant and set the mood for their negotiating meeting,” said Gabriela Lara, a sophomore at UC Berkeley. “I enjoyed that we could help make them feel supported because they deserve to have healthy homes and better living conditions and rents.”
Luis Zeron, one of the tenants of the building, was left in awe with the number of students who showed up to support the organizing efforts.
“It was very inspirational,” Zeron said. “It was a huge help and I felt even safer knowing how many people were willing to support us. We have to help each other.”
Thanks, in part, to the students’ solidarity, the tenants were successful. Just a few months after purchasing the building, the new landlord agreed to sell it to the San Francisco Land Trust. It means that the 14th Street tenants will be able to live in a building that is permanently affordable and safe from real estate speculators.
On day two, students were led through the ILWU's library and archive by archivist Robin Walker. Students learned about the union's militant history in the Bay Area and student struggles in solidarity with workers throughout history.
On their last day, students traveled to Sacramento for a Workforce Development Board hearing on SB 150, a bill that would introduce labor standards into federally funded projects, such as the Infrastructure Investment and JobsAct.
"UAW members were ecstatic to be joined by Solidarity Spring students,” said Sarah Arveson, VP of UAW 5810, now merged with 4811. “Having a sea of young, bright students in red union t-shirts speaking to the room and acting in solidarity with UAW was moving to the California Workforce Development Board and coalition partners.”
While in Sacramento, students had an unexpected opportunity to meet the Executive Secretary-Treasurer of the California Labor Federation, Lorena Gonzalez.
Participants of the 2024 Solidarity Spring program will be involved in planning the 2025 program. They hope to transition it into a student-led course.
Written by Coral del Mar Murphy. Photos: Alan Aguilar, Jenifer MacGillvary, and Sandy Olgeirson. The UC Berkeley Labor Center acknowledges the support of The Mario Savio Social Justice Program at the Public Service Center and thanks them for their financial contribution to our program.