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News :: Civil & Human Rights : Labor |
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8 Days of Sitting In at WashU, Take Action: Sit-In for Living Wage, Washington University in St. Louis |
Current rating: 0 |
by WashU Student Worker Alliance
Email: ojiugo (nospam) gmail.edu (unverified!)
Phone: 314-680-8016 |
11 Apr 2005
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The following is from a student participating in the ongoing sit-in/occupation in the main administrative building of Washington University in St. Louis. The sit-in is in support of campus workers who do not currently receive a living wage. Currently the sit-in has been going on for 8 days (since April 4). Below this message is a list of ways you can take action and a summary of what we've been doing over the past 10 days.
Update: Word has just been received that Washington U has announced that the students must vacate the sit-in as of 11:30pm Monday evening. This update is posted as a comment to this article. For up-to-date info, check out the St. Louis IMC Newswire at http://stlouis.indymedia.org/ |
 8 Days of Sitting In at WashU, Take Action:Sit-In for Living Wage, Washington University in St. Louis |  8 Days of Sitting In at WashU, Take Action:Sit-In for Living Wage, Washington University in St. Louis |  8 Days of Sitting In at WashU, Take Action:Sit-In for Living Wage, Washington University in St. Louis |
Hello from Brookings Hall.
I sent out information about our living wage campaign on the first day students occupied Washington University's admissions office; today we are on day 8 of our sit-in. Washington University's chancellor has remained as unresponsive as he can get away with, even going so far as guaranteeing his presence at a meeting today and then sending representatives at the last minute. We have, however, received endorsements from national AFL-CIO president John Sweeney, Missouri AFL-CIO president Hugh McVey, Congressman Lacy Clay, and Senator John Edwards. With such overwhelming support and our refusal to leave this office, we are optimistic about our chances of winning. In today's meeting we requested a start to negotiations but were put off. Besides sending representatives that had no binding authority, the administration showed no intention of directly responding to our proposed code of conduct. We expect this to be a sticking point given the Chancellor's previous response, a statement to the effect of, "Students don't negotiate. Only I negotiate." Our action will prove to him that students do in fact have the power to negotiate what happens with their tuition money and to hold such supposedly progressive institutions accountable. Please let our chancellor, Mark Wrighton, know that we are not alone in our sentiments: email wrighton (at) wustl.edu or call 314.935.5100.
~Meredith Davis
mldavis (at) wustl.edu
Student Worker Alliance
Direct Contact with SWA:
Ojiugo Uzoma
ojiugo (at) gmail.com
314-680-8016
-----------------------------------------------------
What You Can Do:
1. Contact Chancellor Mark S. Wrighton and tell him you are in support of a living wage
email: wrighton (at) wustl.edu
phone: +1 314 935-5100
fax: +1 314 935-4744
-And if you are in St. Louis we are having rallies at noon and 5pm at the university.
2. Forward This Email and Tell Your Friends
3. Sign the online petition in support of a living wage for Washington University Workers.
You can sign on behalf of yourself or an organization.
If you are an alum, please sign the petition here:
http://www.petitiononline.com/WUwages/petition.html
On Our Website, follow the Endorsements link on The Left:
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~tjzander/
There is a direct link to the petition form here:
http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~tjzander/solidarity.html
-------------------------------------------------------------
The Sit-In at Washington University in St. Louis
What has SWA done in the first 5 days?
Rally on Friday March 31
Two Aramark workers speak in support of a living wage.
Give Chancellor Code of Conduct and demand a meeting on Monday April 4
Day 1 - April 4
Chancellor did not come when we asked.
Establish Presence- 50 people in office.
WU announces that Chancellor will meet with University Council to review Code of Conduct on Mon. April 11. -attempt to delay and wait us out.
5 reps from SWA meet with Vice Chancellor Givens and 4 Deans to go over Code.
150 visitors sign their names in support.
Alumni Petition that halts donations begins.
Initiate daily rallies at noon and five.
More than 20 students sleep in the office.
Day 2 - April 5
The Sit-In appears in St. Louis Post-Dispatch.
Increased contact with PFs(pre-freshmen, prospective students). Distribute fliers.
Orange arm bands. 'Living Wage Now' shirts.
Endorsement from John J. Sweeney, president of national AFL-CIO.
Sit-IN on: Local Fox-2 News, CBS Channel 4, UPN
Day 3 - April 6
Professor petition continues to circulate
Living Wage Campaigns from Georgetown, Harvard, and Stanford wrote to SWA with encouragement to stay committed.
Tent city kicks off! to show students' demands.
Day 4 - April 7
Hugh McVey, president of Missouri AFL-CIO.
thanks us for bringing labor issues to the press.
At noon rally, McVey and others speak out. 120 persons.
Outreach Team continues to raise awareness.
Day 5 - Friday, April 8
Deliver Chancellor a letter demanding inclusion of SWA representatives to his meeting with Univ. Council. And for a follow up meeting with all sitters-in.
Urge others to call Chancellor's office to express the importance of a living wage.
Go to Chancellor's office and do not leave until we receive affirmative answer of letter.
Washington Post, St. Louis Post-Dispatch report on Sit-IN.
5 p.m. rally with live music
Professors play music for sitters-in and outside supporters.
Day 6 - Saturday, April 9
Organizing
Chancellor visits sit-in, we clarifiedy stuff about meeting, what role our two representatives have at the meeting.
We make it clear that we are ready to start negotiations as soon as possible, but he was made uncomfortable by that and was reluctant to refer to our meetings as negotiations.
Day 7 - April 10
John Edwards called and expressed his support!
Memorial service for Elizabeth Danforth, the wife of the previous chancellor.
Police Chief Don Strom comes to express of appreciation we showed to Danforth family.
Day 8 - April 11
Congressman Lacy Clay Jr. visits the sit-in and gives his support!
Living Wage NOW!
Students Empowered and Making A Difference
Everyone Involved Takes Credit in Victory
Contact us: swa_wu (at) yahoo.com
314-680-8016 or
314-935-8702(office where sit in takes place)
Those who profess to favor freedom, yet deprecate agitation, are men who want crops without plowing up the ground. They want rain without thunder and lightening. They want the ocean without the awful roar of its many waters. This struggle may be a moral one; or it may be a physical one; or it may be both moral and physical; but it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.
-Frederick Douglass |
Related stories on this site:
11:30 please come! washu kicking students out
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This work is in the public domain. |
Comments
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11:30 please come! washu kicking students out |
by washu Student Worker Alliance
ojugo (nospam) gmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
11 Apr 2005
|
The university has just delivered to us a letter stating their intent to
kick students out of s. brookings at 11:30 this evening. Please come to
south brookings with cameras, and if you have some cash to put up for bail
this might be needed, and would be greatly appreciated.
you can reach us at:
314-680-8016
314-935-8702(office where sit in takes place)
April 11, 2005
Re: Occupation of South Brookings Hall and Brookings Quadrangle
Dear Students:
Earlier today, Executive Vice Chancellor Klein, and Vice Chancellors McLeod and Prenatt, shared with you and your fellow participants the University's response to the proposal put forward by the Student Worker Alliance. I understand that you have raised important issues and that you have been invited to join in pursuing the next steps. I believe that the University's plan presents a process to begin to address the concerns raised about wages and benefits for contract workers.
Your continued presence in South Brookings Hall and the Brookings Quadrangle interferes with the rights of other members of the Washington University community, and our visitors, to conduct their routine activities. As I indicated to four of your representatives last week, your unauthorized occupation of campus spaces is a disruption of the work of the University, in clear violation of the University's Student Judicial code. I ask that you fully vacate South Brookings Hall and the Brookings Quadrangle, by 11:30pm, today, April 11th.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Sincerely,
Justin X. Carroll
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students
and Dean of Students |
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Sit-In May Turn Into Lockdown At Washington University in St. Louis |
by via US IMC
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Apr 2005
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Apr 12, 2005 @ 04:53 GMT
At Washington Universtity, in St. Louis Missouri, 14 students sat in an admissions building to demand a living wage for the food, janitorial, and service workers of the university.
That was eight days ago. Today 50 students are inside the admissions office, located inside Brookings Hall, and an additional 200 are outside rallying for a living wage.
As early as tonight, the University will make an attempt to forcibly remove the students from the admissions building. However, it has been reported that the 14 students that started this sit in will not move voluntarily until the demands are met.
This information comes from Washington University via telphone, and will be updated as necessary.
http://indymedia.us/en/2005/04/6283.shtml |
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More Updates |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Apr 2005
|
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The St. Louis IMC site is having problems, which is why this story was featured here so that it could gain syndication on US IMC and other sites. You can also check http://www.bigmuddyimc.org/ for more updates. |
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Sit-in coverage on Democracy Now |
by ML
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
12 Apr 2005
|
Per a story on the St. Louis IMC Newswire, it looks like Democracy Now will be giving the sit-in some coverage on todayis show. It can be heard on WEFT, 90.1 FM, and on cable.
http://www.democracynow.org/
BigMuddy IMC also continues giving the sit-in extensive coverage. Good job! |
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students at sit in are presented letters from washu judicial director, A candlight vigil is planned for 7pm April 12 |
by student worker alliance
ojiugo (nospam) gmail.com (unverified) |
Current rating: 0
12 Apr 2005
|
We would like to thank everyone who visited us last night and who emailed and phoned the chancellor in support of a living wage(and visited the chancellors residence). We are going to have a candlelight vigil tonight at 7pm in the quad to express solidarity in a more somber way.
Below, you will find a letter sent this afternoon by Tamara King, Director of Judicial Programs at WashU, to the individual students engaging in the sit in and hunger strike. If you would like to contact the director, and express your belief that the students occupying the admissions office are engaging in an act of conscience that is in support of workers who are part of the Washington University community, workers who make a wage that is more than a dollar below the level decided by the St. Louis Board of Alderman as adequate to live in this city, and that the resources of the university could be much better spent doing something else besides chasing around a group of socially minded students, her email address is king (at) wustl.edu
April 12, 2005
Director of Judicial Programs
To: [each letter was addressed individually to a student in the sit in]
Case No:
Dear Ms.
I am writing to inform you that a complaint has been filed against you under the University Student Judicial Code. Based upon your participation in the Student Worker Alliance sit in, you were directed by Dean of students, Justin Carroll to vacate the Admissions Office on Monday, April 11, 2005. It is alleged that your continued presence in South Brookings Hall and Brookings Quadrangle is interfering with their ability to conduct lawful University business. Per Dean Carroll's request and your refusal to vacate, you are alleged to have failed to comply with the reasonable and lawful request of a University official. You have been accused of the following violations of the University Student Judicial Code:
2. Interfering with the rights of other members of the University community or visitors to the University to engage in educational, recreational, residential, administrative, professional, business, and ceremonial activities or other functions.
14. Failure to comply with the reasonable and lawful request of University officials or designees acting in the performance of their duties.
Under the University Student Judicial Code, it is my responsibility to investigate this complaint and to provide you with the opportunity to present your position regarding the complaint. I am requesting that you contact my assistant, Elizabeth Williams at 935-7091 to schedule an appointment today before 5:00 P.M. to meet with me tomorrow to discuss the alleged violations.
Thank you in advance for your assistance with this important matter. For information regarding the University Student Judicial Code and Procedures, please refer to the 2004-2005 copy of Bearings.
Sincerely,
Tamara L. King, J.D.
Director of Judicial Programs
cc: Justin X. Carroll, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students and Dean of Students
James E. McLeod, Vice Chancellor for Students and Dean of the College |
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Wash U students end hunger strike, continue sit-in |
by digger
(No verified email address) |
Current rating: 0
19 Apr 2005
|
The Student Worker Alliance continues its occupation of in the Brookings Quad, and after 15 days, they are still going strong.
Members of Washington University's Student Worker Alliance (SWA) ended their hunger strike lat Saturday (April 16, Day 13 of the sit-in) after Chancellor Mark Wrighton agreed to meetings with SWA on Wed, Thurs and Friday of this week to discuss campus workers' salaries and benefits. However, approximately a dozen students will continue their round-the-clock sit-in at the campus admissions office until the University agrees to pay its contacted workers a living wage.
SWA member Ojiugo Uzoma has sat-in from the beginning. When asked about the half million dollars in raises that Washingon University offered its service workers (that was ballyhooed in the the Post-Dispatch and other local press), Uzoma replied: "We definitely saw it as a good faith effort, a first step. However, in our opinion it's not enough to lift the workers out of poverty... There were other points we wanted him to address that the $500,000 wouldn't address, such as contractor neutratlity."
Students occupying the admissions office said that Wrighton has visited them several times. Uzoma described Wrighton's visit last Saturday this way: "Living wage, we have come to understand, is a term [Wrighton] will never use... The other thing we're waiting for him to budge on right now is contractor neutrality...[in other words], no union busting goes on among contracting companies when their employees try to form unions."
Wrighton showed up again late last night (April 17) and asked students -- again -- to end the sit-in. When the students refused, students said he left in a huff.
Louis Fishman, a visiting lecurer at Washington University, spoke at a noontime rally held today (April 18, Day 15 of the sit). He told an enthusiatic crowd of about 100 people, "The poor don't need charity, they need work. Give them a living wage, don't give them charity."
SWA member Danielle Christmas read a letter from a campus administrative assistant supporting the SWA goals. The worker, who wished to remain anonymous, wrote, "Chancellor Wrighton has said that paying service workers on this campus a living wage is not a "responsible" use of University money. I am writing this testimonial because I think it's important to talk about what the University can "responsibly" use its money for when there is a political will to do so. From my own observation, I see that the majority of staff that the university hires directly are white, and the majority of service workers are people of color. We are a segregated campus, and the costs of this segregation are carried by every worker on this campus who is paid a substandard wage.
Among the supporters at the rally was Bill Ramsey, who announced that an interfaith alliance will begin a round the clock vigil in support of the SWA campaign starting at noon tomorrow. Friendly anarchists provided free food for the gathering in the Quad in front of a huge banner that read, "Food Not Capitalism".
Show support for the SWA living wage campaign by showing up for daily rallies, noon and 5 PM at the Brookings Quadrangle, right behind the administration building on the east end of campus. Contact Wash U Chancellor Mark Wrghton and tell him to implement a living wage for all campus employess. Call 314-935-5100 or e-mail wrighton (at) wustl.edu
http://stlouis.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=18441&group=webcast |
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