Listserv for Updates and Actions! December 13, 2007

Announcement List for Everyone!

We have created a general ASC Living Wage Campaign list (ASCLivingWage-Announce@googlegroups.com) for those of you who would like to stay updated on the campaign.  We will post updates, volunteer needs and actions people can take to the list–it will NOT be a discussion list. 

email: ascalumsforalivingwage@gmail.com to join!

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