UW janitors rally over contract
By
SEATTLE--Fifty custodians and supporters rallied today to protest the slow pace of negotiations over salaries and shift changes with University of Washington (UW) management, as well as to commemorate the death of a colleague who killed himself by immolation last year because of harassment and poor working conditions.
The rally was organized by members of the Washington Federation of State Employees (WFSE) and a student group Democracy Insurgent. It was part of an ongoing campaign to oppose budget cuts at UW.
The Democratic-controlled state legislature cut the UW budget by $73 million this spring. In response, the administration cut classes, raised tuition, laid off teaching assistants (TAs) and cut 700 staff positions. But it refused to cut or cap its own salaries for top administrators as by the Anti-Budget Cuts Coalition.
One ongoing issue in negotiations with management is UW's refusal to honor a promised wage increase. Workers covered by WFSE as well as those covered by the Service Employees International Union were set to get a raise of 2.25 percent on July 1. When the legislature denied funding for the raise, UW reneged on its commitment--even though much of the funding for the raises came from sources outside the state budget.
SEIU is filing an unfair labor practice charge over UW's failure to honor its agreement---or even negotiate over wages.
Besides the custodians who testified at the rally to the speed up the have faced and to the oppressive behavior of management, TAs, other students and a member of SEIU gave solidarity greetings to the custodians.
On top of refusing to negotiate seriously, UW administrators are trying to prevent organizing. One custodian was berated by a manager for organizing with other workers on their break time. Two students meeting with the custodians were arrested for "criminal trespass" for being in a UW building after hours--even after they had left the building!
In spite of UW management's intransigence and harassment, organizing against the budget cuts and for workers' rights will continue. Another rally is planned next week--and organizing will pick up even more when classes open at the end of September.
