Rewind & Replay: Watch It Again March 27, 2008

If you’ve seen it, watch it again and consider posting a comment on the YouTube page: www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctMvVHTNAo

If you haven’t seen it, take 5 minutes to be moved, inspired and informed about the Living Wage Campaign!

Either way, PASS IT ON to folks you know: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pctMvVHTNAo

And let folks know they can visit our blog to stay up to date: http://asclivingwagecampaign.wordpress.com/

If you feel moved to write something of your own in support of a living wage at Agnes Scott, send it to us (ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com) and we’ll post it to this blog!

Report Back: Alum Speaks at ASC Faculty Meeting March 27, 2008

Hey everyone! I went to the faculty meeting and after Dr. Guthrie gave his presentation I spoke for a few minutes and this is what I had written (I think I may have added a few things here and there):

I have been asked to speak about why as alumnae we have been involved in the Living Wage Campaign at Agnes Scott and frankly I have a hard time understanding why we would not. Really I have difficulty understanding how ANY member of the Agnes Scott Community can remain uninvolved. We alums are all busy with work and some with law school, med school, other graduate studies—-some have started families and have babies. Alums living all around the world are involved in this campaign.

I believe that it is the strong sense of HONOR and virtue instilled upon us as students that drives us in many things we do and caring about the community that helped support us during our time here remains part of that. We find it deplorable that your co-workers —-that is what they are, your co-workers—- must struggle to put food on their tables in spite of having worked and worked hard here at Agnes Scott for 10, 20 and even 40 years.

The school is growing—- with more students and buildings—- we find it unacceptable to know for example that one woman cleans the library, the first floors of Main and Rebekah as well as the Public Safety building, on days when her work buddy is out her work increases. Additionally the work she as a custodian does is classified as unskilled labor; while SHE strips the floors and maintains them MEN who do the walls are classified as skilled workers.

You can read more about this and other concerns of the SEXISM/ RACISM and severe CLASSISM experienced by your co-workers on our blog. Taking second and sometimes third jobs, relying on government programs is not what your co-workers should be forced to do to feed and house themselves and their families. To know that one woman has to rely on her lunch in Evans or at Mollies as her main meal so that she can feed her children a healthy dinner at night while she makes do by heating up pork rinds with ketchup or hot sauce for her dinner—- that’s not right and it violates the honor code to say the least.

In this political season we hear candidates talking about what they will do to help fight poverty in America. Well this is poverty here—- not just in GA and not just in Atlanta or Decatur but poverty at Agnes Scott—- poverty as the RESULT of low wages paid to those responsible for the beauty which makes this campus known. We as alums can no longer contribute to our alma mater in good faith knowing that our college—- a not for profit institution is in some ways no better than corporate monsters like Wal-Mart.

I asked for questions after speaking and informed everyone that the contact emails and blog site were on poster at a back table. I was asked no questions and Helen Cox who is a student offered some information and invited participation. President Kiss then came to the podium and said that Agnes Scott paid higher wages than most of the colleges in the area except Columbia Sem. and that ASC is on about the same level as they are and that ASC was not such a monster as Wal-Mart. She stated that the college had figures that vary slightly from what we have and that this will be a discussion we must continue.

So one thing I think might be interesting is figuring out how much employees of Wal-Mart make.

Also, this evening I got a call from a student asking for a donation to the school. She said that she had heard of the LWC and had friends involved so I encouraged her to get involved as well. I informed her that I could not give to ASC so long as the goals of the LWC continued to go unmet and that I planned to encourage all alumnae to abstain from giving. She said that she could understand but that the students were most important and could make benefit from the money. I asked her to please make a note of my concerns and of our Alumnae group working with students, faculty and staff.

I was polite mind you—- I know this girl is trying to make a little extra cash but I made my point, encouraged her to get involved and also asked about her classes etc. so maybe she’d be a little inclined to pass on the message and all. She said she would still go ahead and send me a package so that in case things changed I could give. Another prepaid envelope!

Leigh

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

If I Made a Living Wage… March 27, 2008

This from the fliers for the rally the ASC LWC had in Feb…
If I made a living wage, my bills would be paid on time.

If I made a living wage, I could afford to send my kids on field trips.

If I made a living wage, I would be able to plan a vacation.

If I made a living wage, I wouldn’t have to choose between medicine and gasoline.

If I made a living wage, I could buy Christmas presents for my kids.

If I made a living wage, I could buy a pair of shoes every time they get worn out.

The Agnes Scott College Living Wage Campaign Rally will be on Friday, February 1 from 10-11 AM in front of the Alston student center on ASC’s campus. The address is 141 E. College Ave. Decatur and is right down the street from the Decatur Marta station.

Please contact Helen Cox at hcox@agnesscott.edu or 404-432-5540 for more information.

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

The ASC Living Wage Campaign VIDEO! December 13, 2007

 email: ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com for more information or call 404-966-2143.

The Hard Numbers December 13, 2007

The Hard Numbers
ASC Living Wage Campaign
Figures Compiled by Steve Guthrie
11/11/07

Comparing the Board resolution with the Living Wage Campaign proposal. The current base starting pay is $10.82 an hour. As of July 2007, all current ASC employees (this doesn’t apply to Aramark employees working beside ASC employees in the dining hall) make at least $11.62 an hour.

The LWC proposal calls for $14.40 an hour by July, 2008, based on current actual rents and other expenses for a model family of one parent and two children. (These are the circumstances of some employees, and any nuclear family of four is one heart attack or car wreck away from them.) Future increases are to be indexed to actual local rents for a two-bedroom apartment by this formula: rent = 30% gross wages.

The college’s resolution calls for supplemental raises of up to 3%, in addition to cost of living raises, “when resources permit,” until 2014. The index for a living wage is the current HUD figure for local rent for a one-bedroom apartment, as reported in universallivingwage.com. The formula is rent=30% gross wages.

There are three basic problems with the college’s resolution.

1. In the second Bush term, HUD changed its way of figuring local rents. HUD reported these average Atlanta rent costs for 2005: 1 bedroom $834; 2 br $928. HUD predicts these figures for 2008: 1 br $741; 2 br $824. So according to HUD, housing costs have gone down about $100 a month over the last three years.
2. This means different living wage calculations. According to universallivingwage.org, which uses HUD rent figures, a living wage for Atlanta in 2005 was $16.04 / hr., and a living wage for 2007 is $14.25 / hr. Does anyone really believe it’s cheaper to live now than it was two years ago?
3. The college uses one-bedroom rents as the basis for its formula. That’s not reasonable for a family with children.

If we use the same rent figures the college plans to use, and if we assume a 3% cost of living raise and a 3% supplement each year, then in 2013-14 the base pay for current employees will be $16.48 / hr. If we assume a 3% rise in the cost of living each year, then a living wage for 2013-14 will be $17.02 / hr. This is a gap of $1123 per year, $93.58 per month, between income and basic expenses (never mind savings or money for emergencies) even if the college does the very most it will consider doing. The college has set 2014 as the target date for a living wage, but even by its own calculations, it will fall short.

A Brief Review of the ASC Living Wage Campaign: December 13, 2007

 

A Brief Review of the ASC Living Wage Campaign:
*  Early 1990’s: Faculty and Staff of ASC have periodic, arranged, informal dinner discussions, to facilitate meaningful relationships between the two traditionally isolated groups. Faculty in the process learn of employees financial struggles, as well as the blatant condescension and more subtle signs of class-and-race-based disrespect meted to them on a daily basis by their fellow colleagues and administrators

*  1994: The Profile, ASC’s campus biweekly, publishes “What its Like to be a Maid Here”, a straightforward and often cringe-worthy depiction of what the Custodians of Agnes Scott experience as “faceless, nameless workhorses whose existence only matters when its King Day or when Black speakers come on campus”, as one student (me) describes it.

*  2001: The Campaign is formally established, in collaboration with Columbia Theological Seminary. Annual fall Teach-ins are established.

*  Jan 25th, 2007-for the first time in college history, a Board of Trustees meeting is opened to Faculty, Staff and Students, all to formally present Living Wage to be considered part of the latest draft of the Strategic Plan; The Trustees take part in the “role play”, an hands-on demonstration of a low-wage employees daily struggle to make ends meet on what the college pays.

*  March 2007- ASC LWC holds its first regional Living Wage Conference, with students from Georgia State, University of Georgia, Georgia Tech, and University  of Tennessee in attendance

*  April 2007-base pay for wages are boosted from $10.40/hour ($12 without healthcare) to $11.60. A Living Wage for Decatur at this time is $14.40.

*  Summer 2007- ESOL classes, on-campus summer employment and computer classes all begin and are offered to all Employees at ASC

*  Oct 26th, 2007- First LWC rally held, 65 in attendance. culminates with attendees “politely” inserting themselves into the Board of Trustees meeting.

*  Fall 2007-Strategic Plan falls totally short of what was originally requested by the campaign, especially in terms of democratized workplace and institutionalized respect

Blog About the ASC Living Wage Campaign! December 13, 2007

 Do you blog?  Consider blogging about the ASC living wage campain! 

If you do, send us your link and we will post it! 

thanks!

ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com

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