Human rights challenges in our own backyard
Shirley Rivadeneira & Delicia Reynolds
Issue date: 10/1/02 Section: From WCL
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"My life changed completely the night the military showed up at my house. I had no choice but gather what little I had and move to this country." As you read these words, what images come to your mind? Is this a refugee, someone who lives in exile, an international student, perhaps a WCL professor or our Dean? The answer depends on who you consider to be part of our "community."
The words above come from a conversation with someone who is a member of WCL - a staff person involved in the maintenance of our school. Everyday you see this person and persons like him/her checking your ID, cleaning the restrooms and picking up your trash. Often, we pass them by as if they were invisible - as if they do not exist in our world. Is the quality of life of WCL workers any concern to any of us - students, faculty and staff - at our self-proclaimed, progressive, pro-human rights haven, WCL?
At a glance, nothing seems amiss. They have an eight-hour schedule, are paid by the hour, and when students and professors are on break their workload is lightened. Isn't this a job like any other? The answer varies according to perceptions of what constitutes a reasonable living wage.
The best answer, we posit, should be obtained from the workers themselves. To this end we recall parts of another conversation: "I escaped an unjust system to now come and live again in injustice," says my friend. "I have friends who work at Georgetown; they get health and dental benefits, they're paid about 12 dollars. The university gives them a bonus for Christmas holidays. Here, we barely get a thank you card." After a conversation or two, one might realize that there is exploitation and lack of recognition for their service to WCL.
"What is a living wage," one might ask. "How can something like this affect me?" "It better not be another hike in tuition!" Increasingly, there is more and more attention being given to this issue. Nationally, 17 different state legislatures have begun to have discussion and propose legislation around the implementation of a living wage standard.
Many students have organized to grant janitorial and maintenance staff a living wage. In 2001, the Harvard Living Wage Campaign was amongst some of these campaigns which resulted in a living wage plan being adopted by the university.
If we at WCL are indeed a progressive community, our vision of that community - who we include in it and how we do so - must also change! Next time you see our staff, greet them and thank them for making your life at WCL more comfortable every day.
If you'd like to do more than that please e-mail livingwage77@hotmail.com.
The names of those who offered their comments are not disclosed for purposes of confidentiality.
The words above come from a conversation with someone who is a member of WCL - a staff person involved in the maintenance of our school. Everyday you see this person and persons like him/her checking your ID, cleaning the restrooms and picking up your trash. Often, we pass them by as if they were invisible - as if they do not exist in our world. Is the quality of life of WCL workers any concern to any of us - students, faculty and staff - at our self-proclaimed, progressive, pro-human rights haven, WCL?
At a glance, nothing seems amiss. They have an eight-hour schedule, are paid by the hour, and when students and professors are on break their workload is lightened. Isn't this a job like any other? The answer varies according to perceptions of what constitutes a reasonable living wage.
The best answer, we posit, should be obtained from the workers themselves. To this end we recall parts of another conversation: "I escaped an unjust system to now come and live again in injustice," says my friend. "I have friends who work at Georgetown; they get health and dental benefits, they're paid about 12 dollars. The university gives them a bonus for Christmas holidays. Here, we barely get a thank you card." After a conversation or two, one might realize that there is exploitation and lack of recognition for their service to WCL.
"What is a living wage," one might ask. "How can something like this affect me?" "It better not be another hike in tuition!" Increasingly, there is more and more attention being given to this issue. Nationally, 17 different state legislatures have begun to have discussion and propose legislation around the implementation of a living wage standard.
Many students have organized to grant janitorial and maintenance staff a living wage. In 2001, the Harvard Living Wage Campaign was amongst some of these campaigns which resulted in a living wage plan being adopted by the university.
If we at WCL are indeed a progressive community, our vision of that community - who we include in it and how we do so - must also change! Next time you see our staff, greet them and thank them for making your life at WCL more comfortable every day.
If you'd like to do more than that please e-mail livingwage77@hotmail.com.
The names of those who offered their comments are not disclosed for purposes of confidentiality.
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