Student Support for Facilities Laborers
By Santa Clara Labor Action Committee
Santa Clara facilities workers are some of the most dedicated and unrecognized laborers on campus. They take care of Santa Clara grounds, provide support for events, and assist in the day-to-day operations that continue to make our university a beautiful campus and place for many students to call home. Unfortunately, these workers have recently arrived at a troubling conflict with the university regarding the future of their contract and access to healthcare. In recent weeks, these workers have arrived at a troubling conflict with the university regarding the future of their contract and access to healthcare.
The five-year contract Santa Clara held with Facilities and their union representation has since expired, and negotiations — now entering their fourth week — do not seem promising. Contract renegotiations are usually completed before contracts expire or a few days afterwards. The uncertainty that surrounds this situation instills mounting concerns for the workers and their families. Many worry how they will afford medical expenses such as prescription costs, doctor visits and emergency situations—all the while serving the growing needs of our campus.
The university has seen its endowment recover and has raised tuition rates once again, the Santa Clara reported that the university endowment has now surpassed 700 million dollars. All the while facilities workers may be forced to shoulder more of the burden of medical care costs. These practices do not seem to justly line up with our university's Jesuit values of conscience, competence, and compassion.
Moreover, it may also violate every key tenant of the Facilities department's values of customer service, quality of work life and efficient use of resources.
In keeping with its values, the university should work honestly with the facilities workers and their union to promote a more just, humane and sustainable world. Instead of cutting corners on the care of its labor force, Santa Clara ought to be working towards improving the quality and care of all of its workers. More importantly, students should raise their voice with concern.
These workers are part of our campus community, they are employed by the university and many of them have been working here for 20 years or more. There is no reason why they should be receiving lesser treatment or respect, they are just as much a part of our community.
When your community is in need you step up and everyone needs to get involved. Students should start informing themselves, should start talking about it, start showing support for workers and not be afraid to step up and tell the university that they don't agree with what they are doing with these healthcare changes.
It is time that we as a student community raise our concerns and support these wonderful workers, with their loyal commitment to our university and its grounds. We have the power to advocate for their healthcare benefits, and they deserve at least that much from us.
Santa Clara Labor Action Committee is a student organization that strives to support on-campus workers.