Apr 11, 2023, 3:33 PM
to students, faculty, staff, Staff, Faculty
Dear Members of the Student Body, Faculty, Staff, and RISD Administration,
As the elected Student Alliance Executive Board, we represent the voices of the student body at RISD. As such, we cannot take the side of the union or the RISD administration on the issue of the current strike. We do make the statement today, however, that we are in favor of amplifying the student voice in support of the groundskeepers, movers, and custodial staff receiving a fair, liveable wage and for the current strike to end.
We expect, as representatives of the student body, that RISD bargain fairly, honestly, and with full transparency with the union of groundskeepers, movers, and custodians, represented by the Teamsters Local 251. We also expect that the Union leadership communicate openly with their union members and negotiate with the RISD administration in a manner which is fair, devoid of intentional misinformation, and with strong support for our beloved members of the custodial, groundskeepers, and movers union.
Specifically, we ask that transparent and accurate information be shared by the RISD administration with regard to the Union’s most recent offer (Union Amended Proposal from 2/7/2023) that was not found to be acceptable by the RISD Administration and by the Union leadership with regard to the RISD Administration’s “Best and Final Offer,” which was not found to be acceptable by the Union. We ask for this transparency knowing that some details may need to be considered confidential. We believe that summary statements, however, with clear and honest data, is important information for the student body to have as they seek to understand the remaining agreement issues and in an effort to support these workers and the RISD institution as a whole.
Additionally, the Alliance requests to know why the wages proposed by the Union have not been met, using concrete numbers and statements, and not generalized language such as “fiscally responsible,” that does not help to clarify the basis of the RISD Administration’s concerns or rationale.
To be blunt, we are disappointed to hear so much from one side (the Union), and near silence from the other (the RISD Administration). We are confused by who is making the decisions from the negotiations and why the campus community, and specifically the Student Body, has not been involved in offering practical thoughts about ways to end the current strike which has negatively impacted so many students. This has been clear in terms of canceled classes, inaccessibility to equipment and materials needed in the classroom and studios, canceled club activities due to transportation cancellations, excessive mess in the residence halls, and excessive noise immediately outside of student residences, during what are known to be normal student sleeping hours.
As RISD has a strong commitment to equity and inclusion, we encourage the RISD Administration to not only bargain using comparable salaries and benefits from neighboring and similar colleges, but to set the bar higher for these important workers, so that RISD can lead the way in having its workers earning no less than a livable wage. We understand that this will require RISD to realign its financial priorities to match this priority of equity for employees, and to that end, we are willing to come to the table to help the RISD administration to accomplish this, along with our faculty and staff leaders of the college. Quite frankly, we need and expect this strike to end now. Our education is at stake along with the well-bring of our union members!
We are hopeful that the RISD community is also in agreement with our workers receiving a liveable wage, a transparent contract, and a desire to end the strike as soon as possible.
There is a petition going around, giving a deadline for RISD Administration to respond with a legitimate response and offer to increase union wages by this Wednesday at 12pm (4/12/2023). The petition immediately follows this paragraph. It has been signed by almost 1500 members of the RISD community. While we do not take a position on this petition, as the governing voice of the student body, we do want to bring it to the awareness of the student body, for those of you who are so inclined to support the petition.
https://chng.it/pnH44KZk
Finally, we would like to inform you, in an effort to be transparent with our activities, that at her request, made late last week, the Alliance Executive Board will be having a meeting with President Crystal Williams to “talk about the union negotiations, the impact the ongoing strike is having on the Student Body, and next steps.” This meeting with President Crystal Williams will occur this week.
We are hopeful that we, as representatives of the Student Body, will be able to work with the RISD administration to help meet the needs of the students, and support the efforts towards the development of a contract for a liveable wage between the Union representing our groundskeepers, movers, and custodial staff, and the RISD administration. We need this strike to end!.
Thank you for your time and your attention.
Our Best,
The E-Board of the Student Alliance:
Santiago Alvarado, President
Karma Johnson, Vice President
Yaekwon (Sean) Lee, Treasurer
Waverly Huang, Secretary
Nadine Hannah Macapagal, Communications Officer
Rongzhe (Rokyi) Li, Communications Officer