From: A Calver (andreacalver@hotmail.com)
Date: Thu Jan 31 2002 - 15:10:52 EST
Colorado College students have put together an amazing report examining the
wages and benefits of sub-contracted Sodexho workers. Student labor
activists should definitely check it out at ccfairlabor.8m.com
-----------------------
For Immediate Release
January 28, 2002
Media Contact: Greg Piesco-Putnam
(719) 389-7677
Online: ccfairlabor.8m.com
Colorado College Questions Relationship with Sodexho Corporation
Students Cite Unethical and Racist Corporate Practices
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Ð In response to student concerns, Colorado College has
decided to undertake an in-depth study to decide if it wants to continue
subcontracting its janitorial and food services, currently managed by the
Sodexho Corporation. If the college
decides to continue outsourcing, it would open bidding on both contracts to
other companies. The college has not solicited bids for these contracts in
at least fifteen years.
The surprise decision was announced in response to a student report released
to the public just four hours earlier. The report documented a number of
labor practices that students considered unfair. Prominent among student
concerns were charges that the Sodexho Corporation discriminates against
African-American managers, has a record of illegal labor policy, pays wages
that are significantly below the market, and is a major player in the
private prison industry. Concerned students are confident that with this
record, Sodexho
will not win the contract in a competitive bidding process that considers
social responsibility issues, a major part of the college mission.
With this decision, Colorado College joined the leadership of a growing
movement against the Sodexho Corporation, which provides contract services
for a number of colleges. Student movements on other campuses, such as
DePaul and SUNY Albany have successfully pushed for ending Sodexho
contracts. At Colorado College, students, faculty
members, and the chaplain have been involved in raising ethical concerns
with the contract since 1989.
The students' report is available from their website, ccfairlabor.8m.com .
For Immediate Release
January 25, 2002
Media Contact: Greg Piesco-Putnam
(719) 389-7677
Online: ccfairlabor.8m.com
Students Seek Fair Wages, Benefits For Campus Employees
COLORADO SPRINGS, CO Ð A group of students at Colorado College have released
a report on outlining unfair labor practices on their campus and suggesting
some solutions to these problems. The students cite the college's commitment
to social responsibility, leadership, and concern for others, and demand
that it live up to these promises.
The report, compiled over a number of months with the cooperation of the
school's administration, states that wages for janitorial and support staff
are well below the prevailing rates in the region. Among the more notable
findings are that 90% of janitors in the Colorado Front Range are paid
better than Colorado College's janitorial staff, that administrative staff
wages are low enough to put some staff members on food stamps, and that 50%
of janitorial employees lack health insurance. Not only are these policies
unfair, the students argue, but low pay reduces the quality of service.
The report also charges that the Sodexho Corporation, the college's
janitorial and foodservice contractor, discriminates against
African-American managers, employs illegal labor policies, and is a major
player in the private prison industry. In light of these practices, the
students question their college's continued relationship with the
corporation.
Potential measures to amend these and a number of other labor-related
problems on the Colorado College campus are suggested in the report. Among
requested improvements is a wage increase to El Paso County's prevalent
wages. The report also recommends that a committee, composed of workers,
administrators, faculty, and students, be established to
study Colorado College's labor policies.
The report is available from the group's website, ccfairlabor.8m.com .
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This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Mon Oct 28 2002 - 02:52:32 EST