Hark, the students & workers sing!: Caroling against hour cuts at UChicago

The University of Chicago’s USAS affiliate SOUL (Students Organizing United with Labor) has gotten some attention for the most recent action of its members’ campaign to restore the 40-hour workweek!

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/06/us/06cncpulse-003.html

http://www.miscellanynews.com/2.1578/working-group-variations-appear-across-campuses-1.2117640#5

Since the beginning of the school year, SOUL has been working to reverse the hour cuts of campus residence hall service and maintenance staff. The University cut these workers’ hours from 40 to 35 per week, claiming that budgetary concerns arising from the “financial crisis” left them no choice. Yet earlier this fall, the University’s president, Robert Zimmer, sent an email to members of the University community announcing that the crisis is over and a faculty expansion program will begin.

Still the crisis hasn’t ended for service and maintenance workers, whose hour cuts amount to an 8% cut in pay at a time when the cost of living in Chicago already creates serious financial challenges. SOUL demands that the University stop balancing its budget at the expense of the members of its community who are least able to deal with a greater strain.

A meeting with Kim Goff-Crews, vice-president/dean of students, and Nim Chinniah, chief financial officer, revealed that top administrators suffered no decreases in pay…

Throughout Autumn Quarter, SOUL has been attempting to educate University of Chicago community members about the issue as its places pressure upon the administration. Actions have included various student-worker rallies, the delivery of a letter to President Zimmer, a teach-in led by workers and a union representative, a call-in to President Zimmer’s office, and a meeting of students and workers. The events for this quarter concluded with the caroling rally described in the articles.

From the number of workers who were present at the caroling event, it is clear that the cuts are still very much hurting residence hall staff.

SOUL plans to continue its campaign with full force during Winter Quarter, joining the issue with efforts surrounding the contract renegotiation of campus union Teamsters Local 743.

As the situation at the University of Chicago is just one example of the abusive budget cuts occurring at colleges and universities across the nation, the campaign for the restoration of the 40-hour workweek at the University of Chicago has significance that goes beyond even its local impact. Please show your support by continuing to stay updated and spreading the word! Visit SOUL’s website at soul.uchicago.edu for more information.