MC students unionize, demand compensation and healthcare for taking shadows

Mount Carmel students who take shadows, the grade schoolers potentially interested in attending the school in the future, have unionized. They cite unfair pay and working conditions causing resentment that has reached a boiling point. They are currently being certified by the National Labor Relation Board. 

This all started when a group of students who often are assigned shadows talked to each other and realized that they are not being paid for such an important job. The organizers agreed that they deserved better working conditions and wages. They plan several proposals to the Admissions Office and MC administration, including receiving benefits such as days off and paid vacations. 

The five students who formed the Shadow Hosts United Local 6410 are sophomores Ryan Clark, Jack Elliott, Matt Murphy, Alexander Urban, and Matthew Doyle. “I took an old copy of The Communist Manifesto off of Mr. Baffoe’s bookshelf,” said Doyle, “and now I’m a labor organizer.”

Clark was voted to lead the group due to him being the one who received the most shadows. After they had talked to fellow students and gained more members they decided to go for it and put together their demands. 

The union argues that its demands are very simple and would take very little away from the school. The first is a 3% commission on all money brought into the school from the tuition of the students. This financial help would do a lot for the shadow hosts and would help them when they graduate Mount Carmel as well. Another demand is a better working environment so that shadow takers no longer have to deal with things such as leaky roofs,  creatures hiding in the basement, and Freshman. Another demand is an hourly wage of $12, the minimum wage in Illinois. Also, if a student is to have more than five shadows in a month they would be given overtime pay. Finally, the most wanted demand is healthcare provided by the school for all shadow hosts.

These demands are “easy to be met,” said Clark who is the leader of the committee of the Shadow Hosts United Local 6410. If the union and the school cannot come to an agreement,  there is a strike planned beginning November 28, the start of the crucial recruiting week leading up to the December 3 entrance exam. During this time, should labor demands not be satisfied, there will be no shadows taken by union members, and if there are any shadows that come to the school they will simply have to find their way around by themselves. But couldn’t the school just have other students escort the shadows?

“We wouldn’t recommend any of our Caravan brothers crossing a picket line,” said Urban, cracking his knuckles.

The committee has begun talking to school principal Mr. Scott Tabernacki and Mr. Jeff Stur and Mr. Phil Seagroves from the Admissions Office which handles shadow assignments. There has not been any immediate pushback but the parties have yet to meet to discuss each other’s terms. The new union is hopeful that all of their demands will be met in full. They even said that more could be done and likely will be. These discussions will be happening on November 25. If all demands are met there will be no strike. 

“It is nearly impossible for the demands to be refused,” said Clark. 

Some members of the United Local 6410 are unsure though and are nervous about confronting the administration. These members have even said that they might not participate in the strike in fear of losing their $8 lunch ticket which is so precious to them. 

“The fight for fair labor treatment is never without its costs,” says Clark. “The free lunch has long been an insufficient carrot. We deserve so much more.”