During the week of November 15 to the 20th, students at more than 20 campuses organized in support of campus workers for Worker Appreciation Week! Students did a range of actions from providing coffee and lunch to banner drops and rallies. Students and workers found this to be a huge success and look forward to future events!
Worker Appreciation Day
On our University campus, we are often prevented from seeing or interacting with campus workers by our administrations. Just think of the way Universities are set up: the mysterious way in which food trays disappear by being placed on a conveyer belt or the way dorm rooms/bathrooms are cleaned when nobody is around. Why? Well, the administration realizes that students working in solidarity with workers can create a powerful combination that can change the status quo at many of our Universities.
As United Students Against Sweatshops (USAS), we define sweatshops as any workplace that deprives workers of their right to organize, which makes many of our Universities guilty of sweatshop abuses. Now, as USAS we have worked on various campaigns with on campus worker everything from living wages, to union bargaining, and the right to organize. We have now done a national Worker Appreciation Day to further expand our solidarity building with workers on campus. The following are schools that participated on this day with many more campuses that continue to do worker appreciation on a regular basis:
Grand Valley State University students made cards for workers of the following unions: AFSCME local 2074, GVCOTA/MEA (Grand Valley Clerical Office Technical Association- Michigan Education Association) got a card with a big heart made out of apples with lots of glitter. The Grand Valley State University and Police Officers Labor Council and Department of Public Safety Employees got a card that says: “Please don’t arrest us we made you a giant turkey card!”
University of Chicago students made banners, which said “Dear Campus Workers, Thank you for our education! – Students” These banners were then put in the dinning halls, the quad and Reynolds club where students were asked to sign then before they were handed to the union representatives.
University of Texas, San Antonio, University of Texas, Austin and Trinity University students at these schools had a table set up and had students sign a card with a statement of appreciation and solidarity for workers. They also had cookies and snacks for the workers.
University of Miami students made lunch for UNICCO (subcontractors) workers.
Ursinus College students gave out coffee, donuts and flowers to their campus workers. The workers were so happy that they emailed the Dean letting her know what the students had done.
Nova Southeastern University and other Florida students held a community rally to show their support for UNICCO, workers whose employment was being threatened by the University.
Michigan State University students made and handed out cards to campus workers in the following unions: AFSCME local 999, AFSCME local 1585, IATSE local 274, and IUOE local 547.
Indiana University students invited workers they have been working with to an on campus Thanksgiving dinner.
University of California, Davis students had a pot luck and cultural exchange with workers and allies.
Louisiana State University students did a banner drop.
University of Wisconsin, Madison students made cards and had a banner for their workers.
George Washington students gave out cards with a flower and stickers to housekeeping and food service staff.
SUNY, Albany handed our cards with an invitation to a breakfast.
Fordham University students did a breakfast, lunch, and dinner for workers on their campus.
Skidmore College made a big banner that says “We (heart) Skidmore Workers!” and hung it by the main entrance and had students sign the banner. They will then be giving the banner to the union when it goes into contract negotiations. Also, they sent out thank you cards to all the workers.
University at Buffalo did a banner drop (9 ft by 14 ft) that says “Justice for Janitors, Say NO to Firings in January!” to go along with a worker breakfast that is done every week.
Harvard University students hung banners that read “I Support Harvard Workers” from three prominent dorms that face the center of Harvard yard (where people take classes).
Columbia University students brought coffee to their security guards early in the morning.
CUNY Law made a big banner that will be signed by students and faculty and gave out stickers that say I heart CUNY Staff and passed out thank you notes and treats to all the staff.
Other campuses that participated: Hampton University, Hampshire College, Florida International University, Elon University and Brandeis University.
