Respect The Working Class

Earlier this week, we, as a country, unified in all the grandeur that is America, observed in absolute reverence the passing of our most valued and cherished holiday. Commonly confused with Memorial Day, this past Labor Day was a chance for all of us here at UConn to reflect on the good times, the bad times, the hardships and to recover from a hangover.

Contrary to popular opinion, Labor Day is actually an important day of observance. The lackadaisical attitude Americans display towards it is a testament to how dilapidated the labor movement has become in our troubled times. The labor movement and workers' rights are important, and we as a country must refocus our attention on them. The best way to cast light upon this topic is to focus on an attribute we all have in common; that beacon of enlightenment and academic thought that you and I know as UConn.

By far the pinnacle of diversity and tolerance, the UConn student community is very sensitive towards workers' rights, are we not?

Enter the drunken student, or in more detail, freshman. Many in the UConn community loathe you, and I am forced to concur, but not when you yell belligerent and crude phrases to passing women or aimlessly wander the vast, mesmerizing complex known as the Carriage House Apartments. I only care when, after a hard day of studying, learning, and binge drinking, you proceed to vomit all over the only operational urinal in the men's room. This is not necessarily because I don't like being hit with the symphony of odor and color presented by your previously ingested lunch; it's because some poor lady who gets paid the equivalent of a Whopper an hour has to clean up your foul mess.

Unfortunately, upperclassmen are not immune either. Who is it that comes and pulls questionable items and/or props out of our toilets after a Saturday night, or unclogs the mass of hair and other graphic items out of our drains so we can bask in the glory of a clean shower the next morning?

You know, and I know, that these people deserve a slap on the back and at least some semblance of respect. So let's give it to them.

Let's try to pick up those really annoying little pieces of toilet paper that accumulate post-business due to the advanced engineering present in the UConn toilet paper supply.

Let's not stick gum on the undersides of desks or throw bottles or cans on the lawn in front of South. These people's lives are hard enough, let's try not to make it any worse.

The fact is that many of these people did not wake up in the morning when they were five and say to themselves "Hot dog! I want to be a professional bathroom cleaner when I grow up! I live to serve others and clean up after their inconsiderate, little selves!" As a reflection of the wider social problems that many of us prefer to ignore or blatantly disregard, a large majority of those on our janitorial staff are not white, may not speak English well, and do not have advanced degrees in astrophysics. These people are just trying to support their families and make a little money so that their children and grandchildren will be able to have a better life.

It is our responsibility as UConn students and good Americans to help these people and try to ease the suffering they incur while cleaning out our toilets, and I intend to do my part.

Not only will I hereby vow to pick up all of those little pieces of toilet paper, but I call on our university to make progressive reforms and treat these workers better.

As a university student and payer of both tuition and Connecticut state taxes, I demand that these people get paid more, are given adequate vacation and sick days, allowed to unionize if they have not already and are treated with every ounce of dignity and respect that those at the upper reaches of our university hierarchy receive. I demand that this not only come from school administrators and staff, but from UConn students and professors as well.

I don't care if these people are contracted out to UConn from some bland corporation and the university "can't do anything," I want them treated better, and I want it done now.

I can guarantee that if pressure is put on the contracting company, they will capitulate and give in to our demands if they are threatened with losing their contract.

Better yet, I hope that UConn nullifies the contract and hires all of the workers itself, so they can be granted all the benefits and amenities that are given to state employees.

There is no missing that at least part of our janitorial services are one of the few groups at UConn that are contracted out, and that alone shows how much the university cares about their occupation.

The UConn janitorial workers deserve progressive reforms and improved rights, and as a UConn student, I demand that a change take place not next year or even next semester, but now.

Chris Donnelly is a 5th-semester sociology and political science double major. He can be reached at Chris.Donnelly@UConn.edu.