Petition from UM faculty about Chartwells workers on campus

The following is the text of a petition from faculty at UM to President Shalala (signatures are being constantly updated). If you teach at UM, either as regular faculty, adjunct faculty, or as a graduate student, and want to have your name added to the petition, please email Simon Evnine at sevnine@miami.edu.

We the undersigned, members of the faculty of the University of Miami, are writing to express our support of the Chartwells workers in their pursuit of decent and humane working conditions. In particular, we support their right to earn a living wage and, if the majority of workers choose to do so, to join a union, and ask that these rights be supported by the UM administration as well. 

Whereas UNICCO workers are unionized, make an average of $11.55 per hour, and have free health insurance, the Chartwells workers work without a contract, make an average of $9.50 per hour, and are offered health insurance only at a cost that is prohibitive to many of them. Given mandatory furloughs during the summer and other break times, and Chartwells’ regular curtailing of their hours, many food workers on our campuses make about $10,000 a year. Many of them require federal poverty programs (housing assistance, food stamps, Medicaid) to subsist.

We ask that the administration address this gross injustice towards the people who prepare and serve food on our campuses. Since the vast majority of these workers are African American, this de facto segregation in working conditions seems particularly egregious to us.

Please make clear to Chartwells that their workers must be given a fair and expeditious way of implementing their legal right to join a union and engage in collective bargaining to lift themselves out of abject poverty.

We look forward to hearing from you about what steps the university is taking in this regard.

1. Aaron Wilson, Philosophy
2. Alberto Cairo, Journalism
3. Alejandro Portes, Law
4. Alexandra Quittner, Psychology
5. Alok Amatya, English
6. Alyssa Dragnich, Law
7. Amanda Thibodeau, English
8. Ambler Moss, INS
9. Amie Thomasson, Philosophy
10. Amy Weisman, Psychology
11. Andrew Green, English Composition
12. Angela Knapp, Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry
13. Anita Cava, Business Law
14. Anito Joseph, Management
15. Anthony Alfieri, Law
16. Anthony Barthelemy, English
17. Anthony Hynes, Marine and Atmospheric Chemistry
18. Anton Dochtermann, Mathematics
19. April Mann, English Composition
20. Ariana Magdaleno, MLL
21. Ashley Mikulyuk, Sociology
22. Ashli White, History
23. Athena Hadjixenofontos, Human Genetics
24. Athula Wikramanayake, Biology
25. Barbara Colonna, Chemistry
26. Barbara Leibell, Cinema and Interactive Media
27. Batya Elbaum, Teaching and Learning
28. Belkys Torres, Women's and Gender Studies
29. Ben Alsup, English Composition
30. Ben Burgis, Philosophy
31. Bernard Perlmutter, Law
32. Beth Harry, Teaching and Learning
33. Bill Smith, International Studies
34. Billie Lynn, Art and Art History
35. Brad Cokelet, Philosophy
36. Brenna Munro, English
37. Brian Curtis, Art and Art History
38. Briana Casali, English 
39. Bridget Arce, MLL
40. Bruce Bagley, International Studies
41. Bryn Hughes, Music
42. Caleb Everett, Anthropology
43. Caroline Bettinger-Lopez, Law
44. Carolyn Chema, Art and Art History
45. Catherine Baker, English
46. Cecilia Vazquez, MLL
47. Chaitanya Jain, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
48. Charlton Copeland, Law
49. Chidong Zhang, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
50. Christina Civantos, MLL
51. Christina Lane, Cinema and Interactive Media
52. Clay Ewing, Cinema and Interactive Media
53. Colin McGinn, Philosophy
54. Christine Morando, English Composition
55. Cynthia Foronda, Nursing and Health Studies
56. Dan Corrigan, Philosophy
57. Dan DiResta, Biology
58. Dana Krempels, Biology
59. Daniel Benetti, Marine Affairs and Policy
60. Daniel Messinger, Psychology                                             
61. Daniel Rivera, MLL
62. Daniel Santisteban, Nursing and Health Studies
63. Daniel Williams, Music
64. David Abraham, Law
65. David Graf, Religious Studies
66. David Lee, Epidemiology and Public Health
67. David Wilson, Biology
68. Dennis Kam, Music
69. Dexter Callendar, Religious Studies
70. Dominique Reill, History
71. Donald Spivey, History
72. Donna Coker, Law
73. Edmund Abaka, History/Africana Studies
74. Eduardo Elena, History
75. Eduardo Negueruela-Azarola, MLL
76. Elena Grau-Lleveria, MLL
77. Eleni Sfakianaki, Epidemiology and Public Health
78. Elijah Chudnoff, Philosophy
79. Elisabeth Juetten, MLL
80. Elisabeth Llaveria-Powell, MLL
81. Elizabeth M. Iglesias, Law
82. Ellen Belfer, Law
83. Elvira Maria Restrepo, INS
84. Eric Firley, Architecture
85. Erin Kobetz-Kerman, Epidemiology and Public Health
86. Eugene Clasby, English
87. Evelina Galang, English
88. Farrin Anello, Law
89. Felix Mormann, Law
90. Fiorella Cotrina, MLL
91. Francisca Aguiló Mora MLL
92. Francisco Raymo, Chemistry
93. Frank Corbishley, Chaplain                                          
94. Frank Palmeri, English
95. Frank Stringfellow, English
96. Fredrik Haraldsen, Philosophy
97. Gema Perez-Sanchez, MLL
98. Gennaro Bernile, Finance
99. Geoff Stone, Microbiology and Immunology
100. George Hendren, Classics
101. George Yúdice, MLL
102. Gina Maranto, Ecosystem Science and Policy
103. Giovanna Pompele, Women's and Gender Studies
104. Gonzalo Soruco, Strategic Communication
105. Grace Barnes, Cinema and Interactive Media
106. Gregor Eberli, Marine Geology and Geophysics
107. Gregory Bush, History
108. Guerda Nicolas, Educational and Psychological Studies
109. Han Tran, Classics
110. Harvey Siegel, Philosophy
111. Heleana Theixos, Philosophy
112. Henry Green, Religious Studies
113. Hugh Thomas, History
114. Isaac Skromne, Biology
115. Irwin Stotzky, Law
116. James Britton, Composition
117. James Natland, Marine Geology and Geophysics
118. James Virga, Cinema and Interactive Media
119. Jane Alison, English
120. Jane Connolly, MLL
121. Jeff Donnelly, American Studies
122. Jennifer Hill, Law
123. Jennifer Clarke, Epidemiology
124. Jennifer Krawec, Teaching and Learning
125. Jennifer Swanson, Philosophy
126. Jessica Morris, Law
127. Jessica Stults, English
128. Joel Nickels, English
129. John Funchion, English
130. John Murphy, Sociology
131. John Yarling, Music
132. Jonathan West, Political Science
133. Joseph Alkana, English
134. Josephina Olascoaga, Applied Marine Physics
135. Josh Diem, Teaching and Learning
136. Joshua Shriftman,  English Composition
137. Juan Kanai, Geography
138. Julie Samit, MLL
139. Jyotika Ramaprasad, Journalism
140. Kamal Premaratne, Electrical and Computer Engineering
141. Karen Kennedy, Music
142. Karen Turner, Business Law
143. Karl Gunther, History
144. Kate Ramsey, History
145. Katharine Westaway, English
146. Katherine Wheeler, Architecture
147. Kathryn Freeman, English
148. Kathryn Tosney, Biology
149. Keith D. Waddington, Biology
150. Ken Muller, Physiology
151. Kenny Broad, Marine Affairs and Policy
152. Kenya Snowden, Nursing and Health Studies
153. Keri Kettle, Marketing
154. Kevin Finn, MLL
155. Kunal Parker, Law
156. Kurt Voss-Hoynes, English
157. Lansing McLoskey, Music
158. Larry Peterson, Marine Geology and Geophysics
159. Laura Giannetti, MLL
160. Lauren Petrino, English
161. Lillian Manzor, MLL
162. Lilliann Zamora, Biology
163. Linda Belgrave, Sociology
164. Lisa Reyes, English Composition
165. Lora Fleming, Epidemiology and Public Health (Emerita)
166. Louis Marcelin, Anthropology
167. Louise Davidson-Schmich, Political Science
168. Luis Vargas, Biology
169. Luz Ainai Morales Pino, MLL
170. Lydia Buki, Educational and Psychological Studies
171. Manohar Narayanamurthi, Electrical and Computer Engineering
172. Mari Williams, MLL                                     
173. Maria Gracia Pardo, Latin American Studies
174. Maria Carlo, Teaching and Learning
175. Maria Llabre, Psychology
176. Maria Galli Stampino, MLL
177. Maria Luisa Negrin, MLL
178. Marjorie Oleksiak, Marine Biology and Fisheries
179. Mark Douglas Warren, Philosophy
180. Markus Wagner, Law
181. Markus Zisselsberger, MLL
182. Marta Fernandez Campa, English
183. Martha Mahoney, Law
184. Martha Otis, English Composition
185. Martin Schiavenato, Nursing and Health Studies
186. Mathias Lichtenheld, Microbiology and Immunology
187. Maureen Seaton, English
188. Merike Blofield, Political Science
189. Meryl Blau, Strategic Communication
190. Micah Dugas, Philosophy
191. Michael Bernath, History
192. Michael Froomkin, Law
193. Michel Dupagne, Journalism
194. Michelle Seelig, Cinema and Interactive Media
195. Michiko Kitayama Skinner, Theater Arts
196. Mike Brown, Applied Marine Physics
197. Mónica Durán, MLL
198. Nevis Fregien, Cell Biology
199. Nick Stang, Philosophy
200. Nicolas Bordage, MLL
201. Nihel Jhou, Philosophy
202. Noel Alphonse, Philosophy
203. Nomi Weiss-Laxer, Nursing and Health Studies
204. Nurbay Irmak, Philosophy
205. Osamudia James, Law
206. Otávio Bueno, Philosophy
207. Pamela Geller, Anthropology
208. Pamela Hammons, English
209. Paquita Zuidema, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
210. Pat McCarthy, English
211. Pat Saunders, English
212. Patti Rose, Anthropology
213. Paul Lazarus, Cinema and Interactive Media
214. Peter Lewis, Philosophy
215. Peter O. Muller, Geography
216. Peter Tarjan, Biomedical Design and Instrumentation (Emeritus)
217. Phillip Schwind, Philosophy
218. Rachel H. Smith, Law
219. Ralph Heyndels, MLL
220. Rami El Ali, Philosophy
221. Ranen Omer-Sherman, English
222. Raul de Velasco, Philosophy
223. Rebecca Duncan, Biology
224. René Sacasas, Business Law
225. Ricardo Zulueta, Cinema and Interactive Media
226. Richard Simpson, English
227. Richard Weisskoff, International Studies
228. Rina Tzinman, Philosophy
229. Risto Hilpinen, Philosophy
230. Robert Johnson, Sociology
231. Robert Rosen, Law
232. Robin Neiman, Philosophy
233. Rod Gillis, Psychology
234. Roger Kanet, International Studies
235. Roland Romeiser, Applied Marine Physics
236. Ronald Charles, Religious Studies
237. Roxane Pickens, English Composition
238. Ryan Lake, Philosophy
239. Sallie Hughes, Journalism
240. Salvador Raggio, MLL
241. Sanjeev Chatterjee, Cinema and Interactive Media
242. Sarah Beth Lesson, Philosophy
243. Scotney Evans, Educational and Psychological Studies
244. Scott Farrington, Classics
245. Scott Rogers, Law
246. Shara Kobetz-Pelz, Law
247. Sharan Majumdar, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
248. Sherri Porcelain, INS
249. Shuyi Chen, Meteorology and Physical Oceanography
250. Simon Evnine, Philosophy
251. Skylor Swann, Art and Art History
252. Stanley Langbein, Law
253. Stephen Sapp, Religious Studies
254. Stephen Schnably, Law
255. Stephen Stein, History
256. Steven Butterman, MLL
257. Steven Green, Biology                                     
258. Subha Xavier, MLL
259. Suhrud Rajguru, 
     Biomedical Engineering and Otolaryngology
260. Sumita Chatterjee, History/Women's and Gender Studies
261. Sunny Tsai, Advertising
262. Susan Bennett, Law
263. Sybil Lipschultz, History
264. Tamara Lave, Law
265. Tassie Gwilliam, English
266. Terri Doud, Law
267. Terri Scandura, Management
268. Thomas Champney, Cell Biology
269. Thomas K. Harris, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
270. Thomas Musca, Cinema and Interactive Media
271. Tim Watson, English
272. Tom Goodman, English 
273. Tom Lopez, Art and Art History
274. Tom Steinfatt, Communication Studies
275. Traci Ardren, Anthropology
276. Tracy Devine Guzmán, MLL
277. Tsitsi D. Wakhisi, Journalism
278. Vidhi Chhaochharia, Finance
279. Walid Saad, Electrical and Computer Engineering
280. Walter G. Secada, School of Education and Human Development
281. Wendy Cavendish, Teaching and Learning
282. Willa Collins, Music
283. William Pestle, Anthropology 
284. William Rothman, Cinema and Interactive Media
285. Wilson Shearin, Classics
286. Yves Colon, Journalism
287. Yvonne Gavela-Ramos, MLL

An Easter Message

From Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903), in his encyclical Rerum Novarum (1891):

Furthermore, the employer must never tax his work people beyond their strength, or employ them in work unsuited to their sex and age. His great and principal duty is to give every one what is just. Doubtless, before deciding whether wages are fair, many things have to be considered; but wealthy owners and all masters of labor should be mindful of this—that to exercise pressure upon the indigent and the destitute for the sake of gain, and to gather one’s profit out of the need of another, is condemned by all laws, human and divine. To defraud any one of wages that are his due is a great crime which cries to the avenging anger of Heaven. "Behold, the hire of the laborers ... which by fraud has been kept back by you, crieth; and the cry of them hath entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth." Lastly, the rich must religiously refrain from cutting down the workmen’s earnings, whether by force, by fraud, or by usurious dealing; and with all the greater reason because the laboring man is, as a rule, weak and unprotected, and because his slender means should in proportion to their scantiness be accounted sacred.

(Thanks to Jeff Donnelly for the reference.)

Rally for Chartwells workers at UM, April 4th

Class Divisions in Miami

Check out this interesting piece, based on recent census material, about class divisions in Miami.

Article in the Huffington Post on campus workers' wages calls out UM by name

A great article in the Huffington Post about the appalling level of wages for workers on campuses in the US:

"Very few low-wage workers on American campuses even earn a poverty-level income, let alone receive health benefits. Many work only nine or 10 months a year and are often barred from receiving unemployment benefits during the few summer months they are unemployed. Yet their work is an essential ingredient of college life; without them, campuses couldn't function," Eisenberg wrote in one of many dead-on statements in the post.

He added: "It is in part the result of our growing class divide, in which blue-collar and low-level service workers are granted little or no respect and are treated accordingly. The fact that so many of these workers are members of minority groups taps into lingering negative attitudes about immigrant workers and people of color. Moreover, many colleges have become big businesses, reflecting corporate values: management efficiency, top-down decision making, a wide divide between top salaries and those of the lowest-paid workers, and trustees who care little about academic matters but a great deal about finances and fund raising."

Eisenberg mentions UM in particular:

"At Georgetown University, an undergraduate-led living-wage coalition won a victory over a recalcitrant university administration. At Harvard and the University of Miami, pressure from students and unions prompted the institutions to raise the wages of both their direct and contract employees, yet the negotiations were protracted and painful. During the struggles, students at Harvard pointed out that the university at the time had a $19-billion endowment. At Miami, President Donna Shalala enjoyed a $500,000-plus salary and a large university house."

The assertion regarding UM is correct but not, unfortunately, the end of the story. At Picketline, the fight to bring economic justice to more than 200 janitors at UM was our raison d'être. We lived this fight until these proud workers got a measure of justice. The victory was, however, incomplete because not all low-wage workers were made whole by this fight.

More than 200 food service workers continue to earn to this day poverty wages with inadequate benefits. In fact, the only way many of them get by is by tapping into public assistance like Section 8 for rent, food stamps and other welfare subsidies. At one of the nation's wealthiest universities, where its administrators are handsomely rewarded, it is just not right.

That food service workers live like this is a shame for all of us at UM. That is why we must fight for economic justice for our food service workers. It is a fight we must wage now. We don't have a moment to waste.

Cornel West visits UM (2/21/12) and speaks up for the Chartwells workers

On his visit to UM's campus in February 2012, Cornel West made an impromptu appearance at a rally staged by  Chartwells food service workers and spoke in support of their attempts to unionize.

 

University of Miami student Djevelyne Phileus speaks up for food service workers at the university

University of Miami student Djevelyne Phileus speaks up for food service workers at the university who are fighting for fairness, betterpay, better benefits and for a voice in their workplace.

UM's Chartwells workers Launch Facebook page

Today is a big day in the UM's food service workers’ fight for economic justice.

First, the workers started the day with a meeting of support from campus groups, including students and faculty. Shortly after, they announced their social media presence with a launch of a Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/WeCaneDoBetter, to begin to tell the world their stories.

The workers have also deployed the hashtag #WeCaneDoBetter to amplify their campaign's story on Twitter.

Many workers, like Renato Garcia and Nicole Tanea Berry, say they would like a voice in the workplace, which they feel is best achieved through unionization. SEIU 32BJ has been assisting the food service workers in their struggle for economic justice, campaigning for family-sustaining wages and benefits to begin to life them above the poverty line.

The UM Cafeteria/Chartwells are fighting for respect and a voice in the workplace. They want better hours, better pay, and better benefits. Many of the workers say they make so little money and get such poor benefits that they have to rely on welfare to get healthcare and food stamps to get food.

Currently full-time Chartwells workers, most of them African-Americans, make as little as $10,000/year. Landscaping and janitorial staff employed by UNICCO on campus, who unionized through SEIU 32BJ after a long fight in 2006, earn on average $24,000 with health insurance.

By turning poverty-wage jobs into family-sustaining jobs during tough economic times, 32BJ SEIU--the nation’s largest property service union--is helping reclaim the dream of middle-class life for many in our communities.

UM is the second biggest employer in Miami, one of the poorest and most unequal cities in the nation, with one of the highest costs of living. What is the University of Miami's responsibility to the city and to the community of workers who serve it and its students? It’s certainly not to exploit workers, as it’s doing through its contracting practices.

In Miami today, taxpayers are subsidizing a tax-exempt multi-million dollar University whose contractors pay poverty wages and provide so little or no employment or health benefits that they force workers to rely on public assistance for vital needs such as healthcare, housing costs and food stamps for themselves and their families.

This is an injustice not just for the workers and their families, but for taxpayers who pay double every time workers rely upon a social program for a benefit they should have through his or her job.

Meeting, March 21st, for Faculty (and Others) to Learn about Chartwells workers at UM

UM colleagues and friends: there will be a meeting in support of Chartwells dining service workers' struggle for unionization, Thursday March 21, 10:30 am, Venerable Bede Episcopal Church on campus (right next to Canterbury preschool and Hillel). Come and learn more about the campaign to affiliate with SEIU and lift workers' wages and benefits above the poverty line. Currently full-time Chartwells workers make as little as $10,000/year. Landscaping and janitorial staff employed by UNICCO on campus, who unionized through SEIU after a long fight in 2006, earn on average $24,000 with health insurance.

Huffington Post piece about Chartwells workers at UM

This piece, by UM student Nick Swyter, appears in the Huffington Post Miami blog on March 11th.

Feb 22nd march on UM campus, by USAS

On February 22nd, on the UM campus, a large number of students from around the country, affiliated with United Students Against Sweatshops, came to march, to protest the working conditions of the food service workers at UM. These workers are trying to unionize, but Chartwells, the company with whom UM subcontracts, doesn't want to let them.