Letter of Support from the Full-Time Faculty of the Industrial Design Department
We, the full-time faculty of the Department of Industrial Design, wish to express our full support for the custodians, groundskeepers, and movers (Teamsters 251) currently striking for a living wage.
We Believe that these essential workers, who contribute daily to our ability to function as an institution, should be seen, heard, and supported in their efforts to be treated fairly.
We believe it is essential that RISD uphold its commitment to “...furthering progress in Providence and Rhode Island through mutually beneficial engagement with the community” which includes meeting the basic needs of its support staff, who should be compensated fairly for their work.
We believe that this is an opportunity for RISD to demonstrate that they are willing to put their commitment to equity and inclusion into practice at this critical time.
As educators, practitioners, and scholars, we believe that the practice of equity and inclusion must be intersectional, mutually supportive, and built on caring for one another. This is true despite the complex challenges of navigating the increasingly difficult economic issues that workers and institutions face.
We stand in support of our community.
Signed
Full-Time Faculty of the Department of Industrial Design