My name is Hannah Dolling and right now, I am occupying UW Medicine CEO Paul Ramsey’s office with 18 other students to let UW Medicine know that privatizing our laundry services is unacceptable.
Will you support us by calling the University of Washington President and CEO Paul Ramsey with a message to keep union jobs on campus?
UW Consolidated Laundry currently employs 120 workers, whose services include cleaning linens and scrubs for UW Medical Center and four other major hospitals and clinics. These workers provide an essential service to UW Medicine and the Seattle community. Meanwhile, the 12 top-paid UW Medicine administrators earn the same amount as the entire operating budget of UW Consolidated Laundry.
Many UW Laundry workers have held these positions for decades, and several have children at UW. Without these union positions, laundry workers will not even be able to afford a health check-up, let alone tuition.
In response to this anti-worker decision, USAS Local 99 and laundry workers represented by Washington Federation of State Employees 28 (AFSCME) held a mass rally to speak out against the costs of privatization on our community. Hours later, UW Medicine retaliated by laying off 15 workers.
As students, we are outraged that our university would balance their budget on the backs of workers who are vital members of our community and punish those who speak out. Join us in demanding that UW find a more equitable solution that does not harm the lives of 100+ workers and their families.
We are occupying the UW Medicine CEO’s office because students and workers must stand together against privatization of our universities.
Please support us by calling and asking to speak with Ana Mari Cauce, UW President at (206) 543-5010 and Paul Ramsey, CEO of UW Medicine at (206) 543-7718.
Leave them the following message:
“My name is ___ and I’m calling in support of the demands of the students that are currently occupying Paul Ramsey’s office. The University of Washington should immediately halt its outsourcing attempts and not issue a Request for Proposals that would privatize UW Medicine’s Consolidated Laundry.”
In solidarity,
Hannah Dolling
USAS Local 99
University of Washington
Support the continuation of our fight against privatization by making a donation here.