1. They disadvantage employees who really do want to do their best work in the areas they serve.
2. They reduce morale by setting up an environment where employees are micro-managed to the point that they become mere ciphers in a system—all in the name of “efficiency.”
3. They are more costly than what they were supposed to be.
4. And most importantly, they disallow safe, sanitary conditions.  As time goes on, these conditions may cause student discomfort and dissatisfaction, especially in view of the fact that their fees, which are increasing, are supposed to help cover these services.

Join workers Maritza Vargas and Elba Nurys from Alta Gracia, the only living-wage, union-made apparel factory in the collegiate market, as they share their inspiring history of collaboration with students and how their community, Villa Altagracia, is being transformed by living wages. Now, for the first time, a living-wage of more than three-and-a-half-times the Dominican minimum wage is allowing them to access health care, quality food and housing, and invest in education for themselves and their family. They’re represented by a union, which means a voice in the workplace. This New York Times article is a great introduction to the project, and this video gives a fun overview of the history of the factory.

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=289581731055777

Read more: The Herald-Sun – UNC housekeepers want manager reassigned

We gotta work together to fight for justice on the job and dignity in the workplace for campus workers!

919 968 2743

Every little bit helps.

The right to join a union and collectively bargain with your employer is a right for all people, according to the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights written in 1948. Yet Walker and others across the country are trying to rob the people of this right with underhanded, undemocratic legislative tricks. The mass demonstrations of thousands as well as the occupation of the capital building in Wisconson inspire us here in North Carolina.

Our state knows all too well how legislation like Walker’s hurts the working class. A bill that makes collective bargaining illegal for public workers, NC GS 95-98, has been on the books in North Carolina since the Jim Crow era. The outlawing of union rights for public workers, who are around the country more unionized than the private sector, weakens the entire labor movement in any state. As a result, North Carolina has one of the lowest levels of unionization in the country, as well as low wages and less rights for workers in all sectors.

Students for a Democratic Society and Student Action With Workers stand in solidarity with the workers of Wisconson! Workers rights are human rights!

We are involved in new and exciting campaigns on and off campus. Check them out!

UNC-Ch Housekeeper dignity and rights are under attack once again. The University has imposed an inhumane “no sit-down” policy. We see it as another manifestation of the overall culture of managerial disrespect that the housekeepers are subject to every day. A culture made painfully clear in the DTH article about Assistant Director for Residence Halls Tonya Sells.

The City of Chapel Hill was recently awarded a “human rights city” designation, and already they have shown that we fall far short of the title. Sanitation workers Karry Bigelow and Clyde Clark were recently fired after they filed grievances about racist management and unsafe working conditions. They are active members of the local public sectors union UE 150. Student Action with Workers says no to retaliation and union busting activity!

As a student based organization, SAW is committed to identifying the ways that we as UNC-Ch students help maintain inhumane and imperialist-driven sweatshops around the world.  We demand that Chapel Hill student stores begin to sell Alta Gracia products, an apparel line that is union-made where workers are paid a living wage in sweatshop free conditions, so that students have the option to be responsible consumers.

Keep tuned in to hear updates on each of our campaigns!

Now, more than ever, workers are vulnerable to exploitation at work. Administrators and management have larger pools of potentially cheap labor and face less pressure to listen to worker demands. Hard earned tax money from the masses are funneled into the coffers of corporate billionaires with little to no accountability of how they spend the funds. Home foreclosures in conjunction with massive layoffs not only create hundreds of thousands without jobs but also without homes as well. What’s more, government programs meant to alleviate the people in times of crisis face severe cuts of up to half their funds. In such uncertain times, workers must unify to demand transparency in the budget cutting process, access to equal information vital to making sustainable, long-term economic decisions and a democratic voice in their workplace.

SAW stands in solidarity with students and workers affected by economic depression.  In this historic time of duress, we are most compelled to establish that which all workers deserve: equality and ownership in every occupation.

DTH article: http://www.dailytarheel.com/news/university/1.1355093-1.1355093

WRAL article: http://www.wral.com/news/local/politics/story/4614648/

Carolyn Elfland
Associate Vice Chancellor, Campus Services
305 South Building, CB# 1000
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NC 27599-1000

Dear Ms. Elfland:

Today’s Daily Tar Heel indicates that you are unaware of the intimidation some supervisors under your chain-of-command are employing against some housekeepers.

To be specific, I have been told that the supervisor who addressed the housekeepers as “you people” and told them that they are all replaceable was [name redacted].

I have also been told that [name redacted] and possibly others have warned the housekeepers not to speak to the media, to students, or to union representatives about the content of the meetings of the Housing Housekeeping Committee (HHC).  As I am sure you are aware, this is a violation of public employees’ 1st Amendment rights.  The Employee Forum conveyed these same concerns in their letter to the Chancellor, approved Wednesday.

I have been told that the publicly available minutes of the HHC are not an accurate reflection of discussions.

I have been told that housekeepers have been interrogated about their contacts with Student Action with Workers, their union representative, and others.  In this case, I use the word “interrogated” in its negative connotation, deliberately and without exaggeration.

I have over the years received numerous reports about intimidation and mismanagement of housekeepers by [name redacted], including recent reports about his/her behavior in meetings of the HHC.

It is my expectation that you will conduct a thorough investigation of these allegations, of all supervisors connected with HHC, and take appropriate action.

As you may recall, I copied you on a letter dated 8/6/2007, in which I raised numerous concerns about the practice of harsh discipline in Facilities Services.  In the last year, I have seen no effort to modify this practice.   Should the allegations against these supervisors prove correct, it is my expectation that disciplinary actions against them be equally harsh.

Additionally, it is clear that most of these supervisors require remedial training appropriate to their misconduct.

It has also been reported to me that a housekeeper who signed up for grievance training in September, was denied the opportunity to attend on that day.  I have not talked to this housekeeper yet, but I presume it was because the workload in housekeeping did not permit it.

Historically, housekeeping has run with little or no organizational slack. This denies many housekeepers the opportunity that most other employees have to participate in university affairs and training programs.  In January, I spoke to Brenda Malone about the dearth of African-American men who participate in the grievance process as panelists and support persons. Prior to this September’s training, I made a concerted effort to encourage African-American men to enroll.  I understand four enrolled and three attended.  We must do better than this.

I realize that Housing and Residential Education (HRE) has funding problems.  I know these problems are in part the result of managerial misestimates and the fact that our revolving Board of Governors and Board of Trustees cannot make up their minds about how many students should be enrolled.  The legislature appears strapped to fund those enrollment increases that are approved.

Nevertheless, we cannot allow “budget constraints” or “the indebtedness of receipt-funded operations” to be excuses for this pattern of visiting their consequences in a disparate manner on the lowest paid employees.  The ongoing failure of management to provide enough organizational slack in housekeeping is an example of historic, institutional racism and sexism. The failure to provide equitable treatment to African-Americans and women is well-documented in reports from the Office of State Personnel.

Since October is National Work and Family Month, and the Work/Life Office in the Office of Human Resources is offering a variety of seminars to aid employees in easing the conflict between work and personal time, I would hope that you and Ms. Malone would make a concerted effort to ensure that all employees have equal opportunity to avail themselves of these seminars.

Finally, I request that at least two students who are knowledgeable about housekeeping operations in HRE be appointed to the HHC.  Students are stakeholders and are impacted by the proposed changes to staffing levels. I will be happy to provide the names of qualified candidates.

I further request that meetings of the HHC be open to the public.  Some of your supervisors are apparently incapable of decent behavior at this time without public oversight.

Very truly yours,

Steve Hutton
Employee Relations Chair
SEANC District 25