Graduate students at the University of Southern California have won a union
> SARA WEXLER
Will the union make any demands in the contract or bargaining process about USC and its relationship to the Los Angeles community at large — concerning rents, inequality, gentrification?> YONI HIRSHBERG
I think those types of things fall outside of the scope of labor negotiations. So the contract will include things like our wages and working conditions.I think this is the way forward if we want widespread unionization. Unions have to focus on making the lives of their members better. Wading into culture wars, even if you think you are doing good, will in the long run cause division and weaken the unionization effort.