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Friday, March 24, 2005: NEWS UPDATE!
http://www.dclabor.org
“WE
WON!”
Literally tasting the fruits of their labors, Georgetown
students ended their 9-day hunger strike at noon today with
bites of apples and strawberries as they declared victory in
their 3-year campaign to win a living wage for campus workers.
“We’re
really happy,” exhausted but elated hunger striker Mike
Wilson told UNION CITY. “It’s been a real
roller-coaster the last few days.” Students had walked out
of an unproductive negotiating session Tuesday afternoon and,
Wilson says, were “shocked” when the Georgetown
administration presented a new proposal last night that met
nearly all their demands. The proposal came just hours before a
midnight deadline for a settlement established by Metro Council
President Jos Williams, who vowed to begin leading labor,
religious and community activists in a series of 24-hour
Solidarity Hunger Strikes today at noon.
Highlights of
the agreement include a raise to a minimum hourly wage of $13
beginning this July, annual wage adjustments based on the
Consumer Price Index, and a clear affirmation of Georgetown's
commitment to workers' right to freely associate and organize,
as well as a pledge that the University will respect the rights
of employees to vote for or against union representation without
intimidation.
Georgetown
also promised not only to provide full-time jobs whenever
possible, but to seek commitments from its contract employers to
do the same. In other key non-economic
wins, all Georgetown workers will now have access to grievance
procedures and contract workers will have the same access to
Georgetown community resources as Georgetown direct employees,
including library privileges, English as a Second Language
courses, Georgetown University Transportation Shuttles, and
general financial planning information.
“We hope this
sets a precedent for other schools across the country,”
Wilson said. “Meanwhile, we’ll be working to make
sure this agreement is fully
implemented.”
As
students danced and sang outside the huge bubble tent that has
been their home for the last nine days, their infectious joy
brought smiles to the faces of labor, religious, community and
administration officials gathered, finally, together.
The Georgetown Solidarity Committee will
celebrate the Living Wage victory next Friday, April 1; stay
tuned for time/location details. Meanwhile, see photos of
today's "Breaking the Fast" celebration at http://www.dclabor.org
PLUS: read the full policy on Georgetown's website at http://www.georgetown.edu/svp/justemployment.html
PLUS: Stay on top of local labor news by
checking the Council’s website daily, where we post news
and event updates as they happen!
Got hot news for us? Send it in now: streetheat@dclabor.org
Material published in UNION CITY may be freely reproduced by
any recipient; please credit the Council as the source.
Published by the Metropolitan Washington Council, an AFL-CIO
"Union City" Central Labor Council whose 200 affiliated union
locals represent 150,000 area union members. JOSLYN N. WILLIAMS,
PRESIDENT.
Story suggestions, event announcements, campaign reports,
Letters to the Editor and other material are welcome, subject to
editing for clarity and space, and should be directed to:
Editor: Chris Garlock
streetheat@dclabor.org
Voice: 202-857-3410
Fax: 202-857-3420
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