Kennedi Munson
Kennedi Munson
‘Shame on Spelman’ Signs Meet Pom-Poms on Move-In Day
‘Shame on Spelman’ Signs Meet Pom-Poms on Move-In Day
Inside Spelman College’s gates, New Student Orientation leaders waved their pom-poms and cheered as students and their families arrived for move-in. Just across the way, at the corner of Lee and Park streets, representatives from Workers United Labor Union protested the job displacement of women who spent decades maintaining Spelman’s campus.
The conflict arose as 35 longtime campus cleaners were reportedly terminated on June 30 when Spelman changed its cleaning contractor from Aramark to Integrity National Corporation.
Among those affected were women who had served the Spelman community for as many as 35 years. Workers United Business Agent Jeanette Anthony described the situation as a “kick in the face.”
Under Spelman’s previous contract with Aramark, the cleaners were unionized, receiving protections and benefits. Workers United alleges that when Integrity assumed the contract, the existing employees were given minimal notice and little opportunity to apply for their former positions.
“When they got that opportunity, it was one week before they were to be out,” Anthony said.
By the time the union raised concerns about the hiring process, Integrity already outsourced employees, leaving only three positions for the formal cleaners, according to Harris Raynor, assistant regional director for Workers United.
Workers United, which represents employees at several Atlanta-area colleges and universities, says it contacted both former interim President Roz Brewer and current President Dr. Ayanna Howard seeking intervention but did not receive a response.
“It’s not fair, it’s not right, and it’s not something that a college like Spelman, that has a lot of respect in the community, should be doing,” Raynor said.
The union is calling on Spelman to aid displaced workers in securing other comparable jobs or provide them with severance pay. Representatives are also asking students and members of the Spelman community to support the workers by signing a petition.
As new students entered the gates, many appeared unaware of the protest occurring alongside move-in activities. The demonstration aimed to draw the broader Spelman community’s attention to the dispute, particularly that of parents and families arriving on campus.
“Whenever you're on a college campus, you wanna reach the people that pay the bills,” Raynor said.
Inside Spelman College’s gates, New Student Orientation leaders waved their pom-poms and cheered as students and their families arrived for move-in. Just across the way, at the corner of Lee and Park streets, representatives from Workers United Labor Union protested the job displacement of women who spent decades maintaining Spelman’s campus.
The conflict arose as 35 longtime campus cleaners were reportedly terminated on June 30 when Spelman changed its cleaning contractor from Aramark to Integrity National Corporation.
Among those affected were women who had served the Spelman community for as many as 35 years. Workers United Business Agent Jeanette Anthony described the situation as a “kick in the face.”
Under Spelman’s previous contract with Aramark, the cleaners were unionized, receiving protections and benefits. Workers United alleges that when Integrity assumed the contract, the existing employees were given minimal notice and little opportunity to apply for their former positions.
“When they got that opportunity, it was one week before they were to be out,” Anthony said.
By the time the union raised concerns about the hiring process, Integrity already outsourced employees, leaving only three positions for the formal cleaners, according to Harris Raynor, assistant regional director for Workers United.
Workers United, which represents employees at several Atlanta-area colleges and universities, says it contacted both former interim President Roz Brewer and current President Dr. Ayanna Howard seeking intervention but did not receive a response.
“It’s not fair, it’s not right, and it’s not something that a college like Spelman, that has a lot of respect in the community, should be doing,” Raynor said.
The union is calling on Spelman to aid displaced workers in securing other comparable jobs or provide them with severance pay. Representatives are also asking students and members of the Spelman community to support the workers by signing a petition.
As new students entered the gates, many appeared unaware of the protest occurring alongside move-in activities. The demonstration aimed to draw the broader Spelman community’s attention to the dispute, particularly that of parents and families arriving on campus.
“Whenever you're on a college campus, you wanna reach the people that pay the bills,” Raynor said.