No dues are paid until the first contract with the administration. She asked how long GSEU student organizers have been paid. Gage said that she, Rey, and Carpio were not being paid. A couple of union employees are helping out on campus and there are some part time organizers from the student body. It's standard practice that shop stewards get paid, but they can be voluntary or hire staff.
Students sometimes face coercion by faculty.
Gage said no. No one forces us to strike for any reason. Sweeney said there's often a no-strikes clause for the length of the contract while the university abides. If contracts run out, we may strike. Rey said those who bargain are students employed at the time.