Students step up, rally for janitors
Danny Deza and Maggie Cassidy
Issue date: 5/7/08 Section: News
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About 100 people marched April 26 from Krentzmen Quad to President Aoun's house on Beacon Hill. The march started a three-day campaign in front of his home where speakers and candlelight vigils were conducted on the doorsteps.
In a statement to The News, the university said it supported the "rights of students to exercise free speech."
Last Friday, the protest continued when PSA members went to the commencement ceremony at TD Banknorth Garden. As Aoun took the stage, two members dropped a Justice for Janitors banner behind him, a gesture that lasted five minutes before security took it down.
These moves were the latest in an ongoing and reoccurring campaign to pressure Northeastern to grant its janitors higher wages and improved working conditions.
PSA is a student group advocating on the behalf of the janitors on a variety of issues, including increased wages and a better working environment.
The janitors' contract, which is through the Local 615 SEIU and the Maintenance Contractors of New England, is up for renewal in a year.
In a statement to The News, Northeastern officials said the contract was recommended by the union leadership and "unanimously ratified by the union membership in September 2007."
"The university administration is actively engaged in conversation with students on this issue," the statement read.
PSA members said they have not been contacted by the administration and they continue to struggle in their campaign efforts.
"I think the administration is trying to wait out the students; it has become a waiting game," said Northeastern alumna and PSA member Carolyn Bennet, one of dozens of students who took to the streets to rally last week."It has been a long battle and we want the community to know that just because it's summer, we are not going away until they meet our demands."
The campaign wants Northeastern to authorize Consolidated Service Corp, who employs the janitors, to bargain with the Local 615 SEIU for an addendum to their master contract. Approximately 12,000 janitors fall under the master contract but only 200 of them are Northeastern janitors, who start out with a wage of $13.25 an hour and are under the same contract as janitors from all across New England.
Viewing Comments 1 - 5 of 17
Marcus
posted 5/07/08 @ 10:54 AM EST
Oh, come off it already.
Northeastern doesn't pay the janitors. Northeastern isn't going to tell CSC to pay the janitors more, because then CSC is going to charge the University more. (Continued…)
Marcus
posted 5/08/08 @ 4:21 PM EST
Ryan says...
"The janitors came to the students for help so it seems to me like this is a student issue. I'd like to see you tell a janitor that there are more important things going on in the world than for him to make a living wage. (Continued…)
Marcus
posted 5/09/08 @ 4:24 PM EST
So Ryan, what you're trying to say is that any cause, regardless of actual importance, is worth fighting for if the affected person or group asks you personally?
My questions are neither childish nor insignificant. (Continued…)
Moberg
posted 5/09/08 @ 11:07 PM EST
wtf is that big ass paper mache head in the picture??? This is the thought process that I believe went into this: Duuuuuuuuude, what if we made like this giant paper mache hispanic head, and like, brought it to Aoun's house. (Continued…)
Marcus
posted 5/12/08 @ 11:14 AM EST
Katie, the difference between the banners and signs and the silly string and beach balls is simple: one of those things is an expression of a political agenda, and the other is a bunch of college kids fooling around for the last time before they have to act like adults for the rest of their lives. (Continued…)
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