Penn R.A.s Vote to Unionize, Expanding Labor Movement Among Undergraduates

Resident advisers at the University of Pennsylvania have overwhelmingly voted to unionize, intensifying a swell of labor organizing among undergraduate students across the country. During the election that concluded on Thursday night, the R.A.s voted — 142 to 22, according to labor organizers — to be represented through an arm of the Office and Professional Employees International Union. Students involved in union drives at Penn and other schools have said that they want more benefits for undergraduate workers, including stipends, scheduling policies and protections against arbitrary firings and other kinds of discipline.