hunger strike

The University of Miami janitors' hunger strike enters its second week.

Via USAS:

UNICCO and their stepchild (the administration) are gravely mistaken. Workers
shall not be silenced; students shall not be stalled. We won't sit by and wait
for UNICCO and SEIU to find a fair process free of intimidation, threats, and
harassment. Such illegal anti-union tactics are continuing today. Workers have
waited for "the process." They have waited five years; meetings have never
brought results, and hoping has only led to desperation. It is solely the direct
action and civil disobedience of workers and students along with amazing
community support that has created change. We are well taken care of in "Freedom
City" and have access to our own network of support staff that is laboriously
toiling to ensure our safety and comfort during this action. A registered nurse
visits the tent city daily to take vitals a nd ensure our safety. We the
students understand the risk associated with a hunger strike and are taking all
necessary precautions to avoid health problems that could arise. We are taking
this measure because we must. We need your enduring support that you have showed
us in the past more than ever. It has been a comfort through this struggle. Your
support can be shown in visits to Freedom City with classes, encouraging events
and meetings to occur here, bottled water, and continuing education surrounding
the issue. Other events will be communicated to you as they are made. I will
leave you with a quote in which students have found inspiration:"If you have
come to help me, you are wasting your time; but if you've come because your
liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together." - Lila Watson Why
should you participate?/ Why this is being done? The University of Miami's
service contractor, UNICCO, has violated several labor laws. These violations
include Spying, interrogating, firing and threatening workers with reprisals
becuase of their union sympathies. Meanwhile, UM allows the rumor that they will
drop the contract with UNICCO if they unionize to continue. UNICCO has made
refrences that this may happen and all the workers will be fired. UM is
responsible for the dramatic increase in illegal anti-union tactics by UNICCO,
becuase UNICCO fears its contract may be cut if they don't fight the union and
nail.The struggle at UM has garnered the support of thousands of people
throughout the nation, but UM maintans a false nuetrality in the face of what is
clearly an injustice. President of UM's Donna Shalala has allowed the situation
to escelate out of control so that workers feel their only recourse to justice
is through a hunger strike. After seven days of not eating, two workers have
been sent to the hospital. All this for protecting the human right to organize!
UM allows civil rights vioalations to continue at the expense of workers and
students health!
Call and E-mail the President and Vice President and tell
them:*That you support workers efforts, and are horrified that UM has allowed
this to escelate to a hunger strike.*That it is never OK to fire a worker for
their union sympathies, and that the right to organize is a human right! *That
they should respect workers rights to unionize in what method they choose *That
they should publicly announce they will not cut the contract with UNICCO if they
unionize. University of Miami Administration:President Donna Shalala -
Phone:305-284-5155 email: dshalala@miami.edu Vice
President Patricia Whitely- Phone: 305-284-4922 email: pwhitely@miami.edu

Via Inside Higher Ed

Nine janitors and six students began their fast on April 4. On day four of
the water-only fast, one worker, Isabel Montalvo, experienced irregular blood
pressure and had to be rushed to the hospital in an ambulance. On day five,
another janitor, Odalys Rodriguez, was taken to the hospital after a medical
professional determined she was at risk for a stroke.
More students will join
the protest Wednesday, according to leaders of Student Towards a New
Democracy, or STAND. And janitors have also reached out to members of
Harvard College’s Student Labor Action Movement to help put more pressure on the
university’s president, Donna E. Shalala.