Non-union builder inconsistent with school values
Peacemakers
Saint Mary's College
We are writing in direct response to the article, "SMC To Hire Non-unionized Workers" dated March 23. We're very surprised that Saint Mary's has decided to contract with the non-unionized company, Majority Builders Inc.
We question many of the comments made by our president's financial advisor, Keith Dennis, and are disappointed with the lack of the information provided. As Dennis stated in the article, "four contractors presented proposals that were much higher than the product budget."
What is the projected budget for this project? What were the bids of the first four contractors? How much higher were they than the projected budget? What is the difference between the unionized and non-unionized budget bids? None of these numbers were provided in the article. We would appreciate and challenge our administration to provide this information to the larger community.
Dennis also claims that, "four out of the eight subcontractors Majority has chosen for the job are unionized." The subcontractors are unfortunately a minority of the total workforce building our new maintenance building.
Are we requiring Majority Builders to only allow workers receiving a living wage and health benefits on the job? Did Saint Mary's write such pre-qualifications into their contract, particularly in light of the merit system Majority Builders Inc. works within? What exactly are these pre-qualifications? How exactly do they benefit the worker? Again we challenge the Saint Mary's administration to answer these concerns.
Until these questions are answered, we do not feel secure endorsing the decision the administration has made on our behalf. As a Catholic institution who values the dignity of all human beings, the hiring of non-unionized workers is contradictory. Majority Builders Inc. assumes that a living wage is a privilege one earns rather than a basic human right. The company does this through a merit system which awards long term employees with such things as a living wage and health benefits. Beginning employees do not receive such "rewards."
By contracting with this company, Saint Mary's is contributing to the devaluing of workers. As the article states, this decision was made after months of deliberation. Saint Mary's, as a leading force in the South Bend community, is setting a standard that seems detrimental to the larger community.
We are surprised that a college, who just a year ago signed a Code of Conduct in support of unions on the international level, is undermining union organizing at home. As concerned community members we await our administration's response regarding this issue.
Peacemakers
Saint Mary's College
March 26, 2001
All Viewpoint Stories for Tuesday, March 27, 2001
