<p>Hi Admitted Students!
Welcome on behalf of the current students here at the U of C. Were writing you on behalf of a coalition of individual students, RSOs, houses and workers that has banded together in order to petition the University. Though the University has attempted to keep this on the down low they are planning to turn over the housekeeping services in the dorms to a subcontractor next year. As students who are going to be living in those dorms in just several months you guys have a right to be informed about the situation.
The housekeeping staff, many of whom have been loyal employees of the University for at least a decade, in some cases several decades, were informed without prior warning that they might not have jobs next year. Some of the employees have known nothing but this job for almost 40 years and do not know how they will find another job if they are no longer employed by the University. Most of the housekeepers have families to support and some of them have kids our age who they are trying to put through school. Under a subcontractor the housekeepers will no longer be university employees, and so the university will no longer have to worry about their pay and benefits. Instead they will be employees of the subcontractor who may enact benefit and wage cuts, may not agree to honor the union contract that they currently have and may lay off workers. All of these changes will be happening before the end of the summer. Right now housekeeping services in the dorms is exemplary. The housekeepers are not only quick and hardworking but also friendly and kind. Many of the students have formed friendships with the housekeepers in their dorm. If the subcontractor brings in brand new employees who do not have any personal connection to the university or the students this kind of wonderful service will most likely disappear.
Also, If you guys are thinking, Well, maybe this is a financially responsible move for the university, you should know that the administration has said that The primary reasons for these organizational changes are not fiscal in nature, and that this move will not be saving the students any money. In fact, housing costs are increasing by 4% from this year to next year.
If youre concerned and outraged by this situation like we are there is plenty that you can do to help. For starters give President Zimmers office a call at 773.702.8800, and voice your concerns. A bunch of us already have. You can have your parents call too. For more information visit [Keep</a> Our Housekeepers](<a href=“http://www.keephousekeepers.com%5DKeep”>http://www.keephousekeepers.com) or [Students</a> Organizing United with Labor | Students fighting with workers for justice on our campus and around the world](<a href=“http://uchicago.usas.org/]Students”>http://uchicago.usas.org/) and like [Keep</a> Housekeepers at the University of Chicago | Facebook](<a href=“Facebook”>Facebook) .
To sign our petition go to [Support</a> Our Housekeepers!](<a href=“http://■■■■■■■/housekeepers]Support”>http://■■■■■■■/housekeepers) . Your efforts will be greatly appreciated by the students and staff here. Thanks so much!
Sincerely,
The UChicago Worker-Student Coalition</p>
<p>I remember seeing flyers everywhere for this on-campus when I visited a friend last weekend. ****'s not right.</p>