Remembering Rev. Sullivan

Reverend Leon Sullivan (Oct. 16, 1922 - April 24, 2001) lived a life dedicated to fighting for African-American workers and against poverty. This remarkable man made his mark on the whole world but his struggles for justice were centered in N. Philadelphia. Today, Temple University, ignores this legacy by allowing 300 African-American security guards to work for poverty wages, inaccessable health care, no pensions or sick-days...

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Temple Security Officers Remembering Rev. Sullivan

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

In light of recent events at Virginia Tech University and increasing violence in Philadelphia, the importance of campus security is more relevant than ever. The Allied Barton Security guards at Temple University perform valuable services to the entire Temple community. The safety of our campus is largely attributed to their presence across our campus.

I am concerned that for all that the Allied Barton Security guards provide Temple University that they are not receiving the wages and benefits that they deserve. For over three years, the Allied Barton Security guards have been fighting for better wages, affordable healthcare, better training and respect on the job.

Today, April 24, is the anniversary of the death of Reverend Leon H. Sullivan of north Philly?s Zion Baptist Church. In the early 1980?s Rev. Leon Sullivan created the Sullivan Principles. The Sullivan principles are guidelines for companies and organizations to ensure that employees are treated fairly. On April 24, 1985 Temple University became a signatory of the Global Sullivan Principles. On both the anniversary of Temple University signing on to the Global Sullivan Principles and the death of Rev. Sullivan I ask that you recognize the legacy of Rev. Sullivan and once again enforce his principles for social and economic justice.

I ask that Temple University, as a major customer of Allied Barton Security Services, enforce the Global Sullivan Principles and ensure that the Allied Barton security guards are recognized for the valuable services they provide. Jobs should lift people out of poverty not keep them in it. I support the security officers as they strive to turn dead-end security jobs into good jobs that our community needs.

President Hart, I urge you to enforce the Global Sullivan Principles, meet with the Student Labor Action Project and support the Allied Barton Security Guards in their fight for better wages, affordable healthcare, paid sick and respect on the job.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
April 24, 2007

Background Information

Since 2004, security officers and students at have been urging Temple University to enforce its own business ethics policies Temple University, which is just blocks away from the historic Zion Baptist Church, is a signatory to the Global Sullivan Principles (see page 16 of http://policies.temple.edu/getdoc.asp?policy_no=05.50.01 ). Despite making this pact, and pledging to only do business with companies that follow ethical guidelines, Temple University has contracted Allied-Barton to provide campus security. Allied-Barton security guards are paid poverty wages (between $7-$9.25/hr), have health care that is too expensive to afford, have no pension options, and get no paid sick-leave or bereavement-leave. Allied-Barton has systematically violated the right of these workers to freely associate with one another, to freely express their grievances with the company in their off-work hours, and to form an independent worker association.

The Global Sullivan Principles http://www.thesullivanfoundation.org/gsp/principles/gsp/default.asp state (excerpted for brevity):

"As a company which endorses the Global Sullivan Principles...we will:

Express our support for universal human rights and, particularly, those of our employees, the communities within which we operate and parties with whom we do business.
Respect our employees' voluntary freedom of association.
Compensate our employees to enable them to meet at least their basic needs and provide the opportunity to improve their skill and capability in order to raise their social and economic opportunities.
Promote fair competition including respect for intellectual and other property rights, and not offer, pay or accept bribes.
Promote the application of these Principles by those with whom we do business."

Guards and students have been organizing to win improvements in wages and benefits for years. Despite, Temple's promise as a signatory to the Global Sullivan Principles, the calls for justice have gone unanswered. In fact, Temple University President, Dr. Ann Weaver, had refused to even meet with the Student Labor Action Project to discuss meeting Temple's own guidelines.

Temple does not "Respect our employees' voluntary freedom of association"- In 2005, five security officers at the University of Pennsylvania were suspended for organizing a human rights petition among co-workers and students. Student activists on both campuses demanded that school administrators intervene in the heavy-handed retaliations. Temple University refused to speak up for human rights.

Temple University does not "Compensate our employees to...to raise their social and economic opportunities"- Allied-Barton security officers at Temple University earn poverty wages. Jobs with Justice estimates that a family-sustaining wage in Philadelphia is $12/hour. The national average for security professionals is $10.15/hr. Security officers at Temple earn between $7.00 and $9.15/hr. This puts many Temple security officers below the Federal poverty level.

Does Temple University "Accepts bribes"- Dr. Weaver has developed an ethically questionable relationship with Ronald O. Perelman, owner of Allied-Barton. Perelman make significant donations to the Temple endowment. The Fox School of Business has named a professorship after Perelman because of his ongoing contributions. In turn, Temple University gives Mr. Perelman the Allied/Temple contract. This contract brings significant revenue to Mr. Perelman's company and to his personal fortunes.

Temple University does not promote the Global Sullivan Principles to Allied-Barton- Temple University has refused to meet with activists for more than three years. Temple University refused to intervene when Allied-Barton violated the rights of worker activists with impunity. Temple University and Dr. Ann Weaver turn their backs on hundreds of black workers and the legacy of the Reverend Leon Sullivan.