Protest Against Management Abuse of University of Washington Custodians

About thirty-five students and community members gathered on the south side of UWs campus on January 12, 2010 afternoon to display their objection to the way immigrant custodians have been treated by Custodial Services management.

This protest was the latest action in a labor justice campaign uniting students, community members, and on-campus workers. Despite months of public outcry, organizers of the protest noted that UW Custodial Services continues its terrible treatment of workers. Area managers in custodial services are stepping up their harassment and intimidation.

Due to mass increases in workloads and work speed-up, there has been a rise in emotional and physical stress, as custodians work faster and harder in an effort to complete the enormous amount of work forced on them. Injuries and illness have increased with the worsening conditions. When workers attempt to speak out or organize against this treatment, they are subject to intimidation and retaliation. The action organizers cited accounts of egregious practices by the custodial managers, and it seems that there are three, who have been particularly abusive: Andre Vasquez, Allegra Reynolds, and Yang-Sook Choe. One of these managers, Andre, has taken to harassing students too, as one night last month, he rudely harassed some law students, who were in the building for an officially scheduled meeting.

Management has used a variety of control tactics, including a recent practice of using the campus police to patrol the areas where custodians work, in an effort to discourage them from meeting with each other during their break times. This collusion between the police and the custodial managers was one of the core grievances voiced by the protestors. A few participants held signs accusing management and the police of working together to harass and intimidate workers. Some chants targeted Andre, the custodial manager for the swingshift (shift lasting 4:15pm-1:00am). For example, Andre hates workers, so do cops. Students rise up and help make them stop!

Besides an end to police and managerial harassment and retaliation, other demands included: ending Special Project Crews; ending extended runs, and ending Team Cleaning, all of which involve expanded work areas or speed ups of one sort or another. For the protest organizers, it is past time that students and community members stand up against the abuse faced by custodians at UW. Sarah White, a law student and member of National Lawyers Guild, gave an impassioned speech, saying, Andre is a wanted man. He is wanted by members of the UW campus community. He is accused of the following: using police harassment in an attempt to control workers; ignoring doctors notes from workers; endangering the health and safety of workers by neglecting safety standards and not providing the necessary equipment; assigning impossible amounts of work; and retaliating against those who try to meet with one another to discuss their abuse.
The speeches and chants also stressed a connection between the custodian struggle against abuse, and the broader fight against budget cuts and the privatization of the University. As the spirited protest concluded, participants and organizers made it clear that they were far from done in their fight against racist labor practices; police harassment, and the undemocratic administration, yelling, Students, workers, staff unite. We will fight for all our rights!

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• UW
• picket
• labor
• solidarity
• protest
• activism
• university
• of
• washington

[nwalla1000]

This needs further investigation from people within the industry. I would be more than happy to volunteer. My Doctorate program is based on improving service industry management practices.

[MrChinesehero]

Sweet Job