Carmen’s Letter of Support March 27, 2008

Dear President Kiss and Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees,

 

As a proud Agnes Scott Alumna I was appalled, while I was in college and to this day, at the treatment of some of the members of the staff. How can members of the staff positively contribute to our every day lives, as our second family, when they are themselves being treated as second class citizens?

 

Many days during my 4 years at Agnes Scott, my only family consisted of members of the staff and contracted employees. These were the individuals who were there every single day for us, and treated us as part of their families. There was not a day when I could cry, and vent, and laugh to one of the members of the Board of Trustees, per say. When I was in need of encouragement, and a caring individual, these are the individuals to whom I credit my amazing college experience. Anyone can throw money into a building and create a place called “Agnes Scott”, but it is the people who dedicate of themselves, who are there for us on a daily basis, and console our struggles, who make our experience in those four walls a true experience of learning.

I am writing to let you know that I support a living wage at Agnes Scott College.  I support and commend the Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign’s efforts to change economic insufficiencies and institutional injustice at Agnes Scott College.

Since 1994, the Agnes Scott College (ASC) Living Wage Campaign (LWC) has been pushing for just wages, a democratized workplace, and institutionalized respect.  ASC has the financial ability to become a collegiate leader in economic justice, through fairly and justly compensating its staff; to truly live honorably as an institution, it must be willing to do so. The staff, students, faculty and alumnae involved in the LWC propose concrete solutions to eradicate current economic exploitation and injustice at ASC.

I stand in solidarity with the ASC LWC and support their complete list of requests made in a letter to the Board of Trustees (10/26/07).  In particular, I support:

1. A just starting/base wage of $14.40, the current living wage for Decatur, GA as of fall 2007 (according to research done by the ASC LWC–this figure should be adjusted for cost of living every few years according to the economy), plus paid healthcare for all ASC staff and all contracted staff.  This includes, but is not limited to, custodial, food services, clerical/faculty services, public safety, and the contracted ValleyCrest landscaping employees.
2. That ASC ensures that Aramark staff has the same pay and benefits as ASC staff.
3. Inclusion of all Staff in all historically student and faculty-centered traditions and events that are integral to ASC’s fundamental purpose and overall history, creating a democratic structure that honors the wisdom and experience of all its members.
   1. End the blatantly crude isolation and “invisibility” of the Staff: for example, not seating uniformed Staff in “designated areas” which creates a culture in which certain members of the community are treated as second class citizens.
   2. Encourage and create spaces for Staff involvement in family and student on-campus events, such as Orientation and Alumnae Weekend.
   3. Begin new traditions of a combined holiday party, where all employees of all pay-grades and rankings celebrate together with faculty and administrators.
4. The provision for all members of the ASC community to have opportunities for personal enrichment. (i.e. Opening up eligibility to take part in degree courses to all interested part-time and full-time employees; ensuring Staff members full notification of all campus events and educational/employment relevant concerns.)

The current “Resolution on Living Wage Policy” put forth by the Board of Trustees (10/26/07) is inadequate, insulting and NOT a living wage.  The LWC demands respect for all people in the ASC community, the necessary redistribution of wealth and new priorities for the campus.

I ask you to join the LWC and support economic justice and equal rights for all members of the ASC community. Please institute a true living wage at ASC today!

Sincerely,

 

Carmen L. Bolívar

Letter of Support (also attached for printing–click below) December 13, 2007

LWC Letter of Support

Letter of Support InformationASC

December 8, 2007

Dear President Kiss and Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees,

I am writing to let you know that I support a living wage at Agnes Scott College. I support and commend the Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign’s efforts to change economic insufficiencies and institutional injustice at Agnes Scott College.

Since 1994, the Agnes Scott College (ASC) Living Wage Campaign (LWC) has been pushing for just wages, a democratized workplace, and institutionalized respect. ASC has the financial ability to become a collegiate leader in economic justice, through fairly and justly compensating its staff; to truly live honorably as an institution, it must be willing to do so. The staff, students, faculty and alumnae involved in the LWC propose concrete solutions to eradicate current economic exploitation and injustice at ASC.

I stand in solidarity with the ASC LWC and support their complete list of requests made in a letter to the Board of Trustees (10/26/07). In particular, I support:

1. A just starting/base wage of $14.40, the current living wage for Decatur, GA as of fall 2007 (according to research done by the ASC LWC–this figure should be adjusted for cost of living every few years according to the economy), plus paid healthcare for all ASC staff and all contracted staff. This includes, but is not limited to, custodial, food services, clerical/faculty services, public safety, and the contracted ValleyCrest landscaping employees.
2. That ASC ensures that Aramark staff has the same pay and benefits as ASC staff.
3. Inclusion of all Staff in all historically student and faculty-centered traditions and events that are integral to ASC’s fundamental purpose and overall history, creating a democratic structure that honors the wisdom and experience of all its members.
   1. End the blatantly crude isolation and “invisibility” of the Staff: for example, not seating uniformed Staff in “designated areas” which creates a culture in which certain members of the community are treated as second class citizens.
   2. Encourage and create spaces for Staff involvement in family and student on-campus events, such as Orientation and Alumnae Weekend.
   3. Begin new traditions of a combined holiday party, where all employees of all pay-grades and rankings celebrate together with faculty and administrators.
4. The provision for all members of the ASC community to have opportunities for personal enrichment. (i.e. Opening up eligibility to take part in degree courses to all interested part-time and full-time employees; ensuring Staff members full notification of all campus events and educational/employment relevant concerns.)

The current “Resolution on Living Wage Policy” put forth by the Board of Trustees (10/26/07) is inadequate, insulting and NOT a living wage. The LWC demands respect for all people in the ASC community, the necessary redistribution of wealth and new priorities for the campus.

I ask you to join the LWC and support economic justice and equal rights for all members of the ASC community. Please institute a true living wage at ASC today!

Sincerely,

Letter of Support Information December 13, 2007

ASC LWC Letter of Support

*Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign*
 
Thank you for supporting the Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign!   We have the opportunity to make history at ASC–together we can secure a living wage on our campus.   We hope ASC will receive letters/emails from around the country, so tell your neighbors, family, and friends! Thank you in advance for your time. Please pass this letter on to anyone who supports a living wage!  
 
Please sign the attached Letter of Support and include your title, graduation year (for students and alumnae) and current geographical location underneath your name.  
 
You may send the letter directly to any/all of the included contacts via snail mail or email (or both!).  
Elizabeth Kiss, Office of the President, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA  30030 -  president@agnesscott.edu
Harriet M King, Board of Trustees Chair, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA  30030 - provhmk@emory.edu, Class of 1964
J. William Goodhew III, Board of Trustees Vice Chair, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA  30030 
Lee Ann Grimes Hudson, Board of Trustees Secretary, Agnes Scott College, 141 E. College Ave., Decatur, GA   30030 - Class of 1976
 
 For Alumnae:   
 
Optional:  write at the top of letters:
“I will not give donations until the college institutes a living wage.
I support the Living Wage Campaign at Agnes Scott!”
 
*You may also put a copy of the Letter of Support in ASC donation request envelopes and mail it back to ASC free of charge!   The Living Wage Campaign will let us know when we can donate again.  Organize your class or contact us to help organize other alum.   Let’s use our power as alums to make a difference at our alma mater!   
 
 

For more information about the ASC Living Wage Campaign, please contact:
Helen Cox: hcox@agnesscott.edu,
Jillian Wells: jawells@agnesscott.edu,
ASC Alums: ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com .
 
The ASC LWC video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctMvVHTNAo
Our MySpace page (be our friend!): http://www.myspace.com/ascalumsforalivingwage  
Join our general listserv for updates: ASCLivingWage-Announce@googlegroups.com

A Letter One 2003 Alum Enclosed with Her Letter of Support to the President and Board of Trustees December 13, 2007

I am writing in support of a TRUE living wage for all ASC staff.  When I read the Board’s Resolution on Living Wage Policy, I was disturbed by the timeline for implementation of changes.  Moreover, I was offended by the length of service awards, beginning with $200 for 5 years of employment.  This is NOT a living wage!

ASC has the opportunity to join other collegiate leaders who have already instituted a living wage.  Don’t waste this chance!

I cannot in good faith begin donating to ASC until I know that ASC has stopped paying poverty wages to its staff.

Class of 2003

Why Do You Support a Living Wage at ASC? December 13, 2007

Send us why you support a living wage at ASC (as short or as long as you would like it to be) and we will post it on our blog and use it to recruit more folks to join the campaign.  We need people to understand why this issue is important, who’s supporting it, and why you feel passionate about it!  

Anyone can show their support for the LWC!

This will help us as we organize.  We can share these testimonials not only to help sway decision makers at ASC, but also to gain more community support for the campaign and help put more pressure on our alma mater to do the right thing.  It will also help to educate folks on the issue of economic justice and how it connects to other issues such as racial justice, women’s rights, etc… 

We will also post these testimonials, so check our blog!  Please add your name, location, ASC class year, and any other pertinent information you would like.  If you would like to remain annonymous, then please let us know.

Please send your “Why I Support a Living Wage at ASC” to ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com . 

PS:  help us get the word out by passing our blog along.

Dear Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees December 13, 2007

October 26, 2007

Dear Agnes Scott College Board of Trustees,

Since 1994, the Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign (LWC) has been pushing for just wages, a democratized workplace, and institutionalized respect. We know that Agnes Scott College can be a collegiate leader of economic justice and truly “live honorably” as an institution. The staff, students, and faculty involved in the LWC are “engaging in the intellectual and social challenges of our time,” and coming up with concrete solutions to eradicate economic injustice at Agnes Scott College. We are asking for the following:

1. A just wage of $14.40 plus healthcare for all Agnes Scott College staff and all contracted staff (please see attached sheet for reasoning).
2. Aramark staff to have same pay and benefits of Agnes Scott College staff or Aramark staff to become Agnes Scott College staff.
3. Appropriate workloads. Currently, the custodial staff is six people short. One person is responsible for maintaining the library, public safety and first floor Rebekah.  
4. The provision for all members of the Agnes Scott community for opportunities of personal enrichment. The steps that should be taken to meet this goal are as follows:
   1. Opening up eligibility to take part in degree courses to all interested part-time and full-time employees.
   2. Children of Aramark staff to be eligible for Agnes Scott College tuition being covered by the school.
   3. Offering ESOL courses on campus (in the Center for Teaching and Learning) to all interested employees, regardless of status, for whom English is not their primary language. (Is everyone [ie Valley Crest] able to take part?)
   4. Providing classes in computer literacy; ensuring Staff members full notification of all campus events and educational/employment relevant concerns, and allowing for better communication between staff and the entire Agnes Scott community.
5. Full inclusion of the opinions and concerns of the Facilities, Clerical, Security, and Food Services Staff by means representation and full membership on the college’s decision-making organizations, including the Executive Board and the most influential of Agnes Scott’s committees, the Board of Trustees.
6. Establishment of a permanent, democratic, and empowered Staff Senate that will meet periodically to address Staff issues.  Also, we propose a Conduct Review Board to handle any claims or occurrences of discriminatory activity or acts of intimidation that the Staff experiences from students, their supervisors, the Faculty or other Staff.  We also propose a commitment to real power sharing by managers—that they also step up to the call for mutual accountability and empowerment. (Do you have hope for the current model in the strategic plan?)
7. Inclusion of all Staff within all of the typically student and faculty-centered traditions and events that are an integral part of Agnes Scott’s fundamental purpose and overall history, creating a democratic structure that honors the wisdom and experience of all its members. The steps that should be taken to address this issue are as follows: 
   1. Ending the blatantly crude isolation and “invisibility” of the Staff: for example, not seating uniformed Staff in “designated areas” so that these individuals are regarded as attendees and not as tokens of any sort.
   2. Encouraging and creating spaces for Staff involvement in family and student on-campus events, such as Orientation and Alumnae Weekend.
   3. Offering on-campus child care for all employees and students on school holidays.
   4. Beginning the tradition of a combined holiday party, where all employees of all pay-grades and rakings celebrate together.
   5. Staff representation/participation on planning committees and panels for campus-wide events (e.g. Orientation Council).
8. A long-term partnership with the nationally recognized, multicultural education-based organization, The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond whose workshops, such as “Undoing Racism/Classism” can promote open and long-overdue dialogue upon the issues of interpersonal and systematic discrimination, exclusion, and disrespect between Administration, Faculty and all Staff. 
9. The reestablishment of our Racism Free Zone (we were the first college to be a “racism free zone” that arose out of training with Bahati Ansari in the early 1990s).  We believe that, unless we work on the systemic issues of oppression (racism, classism, gender-bias, etc.) on this campus, Agnes Scott will effectively contradict the ideals stated in our Honor Code, something that will prevent us from being recognized as the distinguished institution of higher learning we strive to be.

The broader Metro Atlanta community is listening. Today, representatives from Jobs with Justice, the Teamsters, University of Georgia and Georgia State University are present. We would appreciate a response. To continue a dialogue, please contact Della Spurley, Kelly Grant, Helen Cox, Jillian Wells, Tina Pippin and Steve Guthrie.   

Sincerely,

The Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign