In the spring of 2014 the university renegotiated contracts for cleaning services on campus, replacing Aramark with new low-bidder WFF. The switch was part of the Executive Vice Chancellor for Administration’s plan to cut costs at the university. WFF offered positions to all of the permanent Aramark cleaning staff and most
|
accepted the offers. However, some custodians chose to leave voluntarily because they were unhappy with the 2.5-hours per week reduction.
The workers’ biggest concern under the new contractor is that their hours were reduced from 40 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week to fall into line with all hourly employees at Washington University. The workers have been guaranteed compensation for the lost 2.5 hours through the end of their current union contract, which expires on December 31, 2015. The cleaning staff will be fighting to regain their fulltime 40-hour workweek and improve benefits during their contract campaign.
In addition to a forty (40) hour workweek, the cleaning staff are working with their union, SEIU Local 1, and student allies to demand that the university pay $15 per hour. Workers are also part of a larger campaign to raise the wages of all workers in the Greater St. Louis area.
Since the successful 2005 Student-Worker Alliance’s occupation of the admissions office, the university has consistently raised the starting wage of contracted cleaning staff. As recently as July 1, 2015, the starting wage rose to $10.75. However the incremental raises only apply to new employees. Long-term employees’ wages are negotiated between the cleaning contractor and members’ bargaining team and Union staff person.
It is important for students to hold the university accountable in December when the new union contract is negotiated. Watch for upcoming student and worker activism and get involved.
What the cleaning staff are asking for is not outlandish. They are asking to be treated with dignity and respect through improvement of benefits, a 40-hour workweek, and $15/hr for their hard work.
The workers’ biggest concern under the new contractor is that their hours were reduced from 40 hours per week to 37.5 hours per week to fall into line with all hourly employees at Washington University. The workers have been guaranteed compensation for the lost 2.5 hours through the end of their current union contract, which expires on December 31, 2015. The cleaning staff will be fighting to regain their fulltime 40-hour workweek and improve benefits during their contract campaign.
In addition to a forty (40) hour workweek, the cleaning staff are working with their union, SEIU Local 1, and student allies to demand that the university pay $15 per hour. Workers are also part of a larger campaign to raise the wages of all workers in the Greater St. Louis area.
Since the successful 2005 Student-Worker Alliance’s occupation of the admissions office, the university has consistently raised the starting wage of contracted cleaning staff. As recently as July 1, 2015, the starting wage rose to $10.75. However the incremental raises only apply to new employees. Long-term employees’ wages are negotiated between the cleaning contractor and members’ bargaining team and Union staff person.
It is important for students to hold the university accountable in December when the new union contract is negotiated. Watch for upcoming student and worker activism and get involved.
What the cleaning staff are asking for is not outlandish. They are asking to be treated with dignity and respect through improvement of benefits, a 40-hour workweek, and $15/hr for their hard work.