Some employees at Chattanooga State Community College and community members released a letter asking college administration to commit to preserving the salaries and jobs of campus workers.
To date, the letter has been signed by 68 employees and community members, it was stated.
“These are scary times for everyone. I think we all know someone who has lost their job due to Covid-19. I, like many of my coworkers, rely on this job for my healthcare. If I get laid off, not only will I lose my only income, but I will lose my access to affordable healthcare during a global pandemic,” said Alexis Mountes, a teaching technician in the Life Sciences department. “There is so much uncertainty and fear. Our college contributes so much to our community and the employees here are essential to that. We want to know that we are not at risk of losing our jobs or taking pay cuts that will affect our ability to make ends meet."
The letter says:
“Chattanooga State Community College is a key player in creating opportunity in our area. The college makes vital contributions to the economic, social, scientific, artistic, and intellectual vibrancy of our community. Without the work of the dedicated staff and faculty of the college, these contributions would not be possible and our community would suffer.”
The letter asks:
1. No layoffs of any campus employee.
2. If furloughs or salary cuts are necessary, these cuts should be scaled so that those making the highest wages are most impacted.
3. Transparency around budget decisions and opportunities for campus workers to have their voices heard in budgeting decisions.
4. Continued safety for campus workers, including provision of PPE and the opportunity to work from home when feasible.
5. Support for Black staff and faculty, including by protecting wages of the lowest paid workers on campus.
An Open Letter to Chattanooga State Community College Campus Leadership
Chattanooga State Community College is a key player in creating opportunity in our area. The college makes vital contributions to the economic, social, scientific, artistic, and intellectual vibrancy of our community. Without the work of the dedicated staff and faculty of the college, these contributions would not be possible and our community would suffer. With these contributions in mind and in light of the ongoing COVID-19 crisis and the recent uprisings against anti-Black racism in Chattanooga and around the world, we, the members of United Campus Workers at Chattanooga State Community College as well as the undersigned individuals, urgently ask the leaders of our campus to implement the following: 1. NO LAYOFFS of anyone in our campus community. If necessary, existing sources of funding must be used to offset inevitable losses in tuition and other revenue streams. 2. PROTECT THE MOST VULNERABLE. Leaders eat last. If there are to be furloughs or other salary reductions, they should first affect those employees with the highest incomes. Any reductions should be scaled so those with higher incomes receive salary reductions at higher percentages. 3. TRANSPARENCY about budget decisions. The campus community must be informed about budget decisions that affect us all. Campus administrators should give avenues for input about these decisions to the entire campus community, including the Faculty Senate, Professional and Support Staff Associations, and Student Government Association. 4. SAFETY for our campus community. The college must continue to provide Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including face masks and gloves, for all employees, especially custodial and maintenance personnel, and campus visitors. Academic administrators and Human Resources should give all employees the option to work from home where feasible and all instructors the option to teach online during the pandemic through a clear approval process. 5. SUPPORTING BLACK STAFF AND FACULTY.
Administrators must recognize that budget and safety decisions often disproportionately affect ChattState’s Black staff and faculty. A large percentage of our campus’s frontline essential workers are Black, and many workers do not make a living wage for the Chattanooga area. All workers on campus should make at least $15/hour. Furthermore, administrators must recognize that many Black staff and faculty are experiencing racial trauma in response to recent and ongoing anti-Black racism in our community and our nation.
Sincerely, United Campus Workers at Chattanooga State Community College, and the undersigned individuals:
Juan Antonio Alonso
Kendy Altizer
Rebecca Aslinger
Joe Boshears
Mellissa Boyd
Mario DeAndre Brooks
Christine Conn
Marie Cullis
Skylar Davidson
Bobby Day
Desiree Decker
Karen Eastman
Paige Elliott
Delnita Evans
Philip Fortin
Andy Foskey
Carla Fulgham
Erin Giddard
Frances Haman-Prewitt
Michele Hough
Retha Jackson
Andrew James Catalano
Felysha Jenkins
Stracee Jones
Caroline Kaplan
Anna Kent
Andrea Kincaid
Danielle Knowles
Angie Maida
Nicolas Mansito
Michael McCamish
Lisa Miller
Christopher Mobley
Alexis Mountes
Elizabeth Norell
Anita Polk-Conley
Robin Popp
Azar Raiszadeh
Amanda Roper
Silang Sam
Nancy Schurr
Mollee Shannon
Jason Smith
Justin Spencer
William Taylor
Katheryn Thompson
David Wollert
Mark Wood
Eric Atkins
Laura Becker
Louise Bell
Tressa Cherry
Suzanne Elston
Corey Evatt
Rosie Fitzgerrel
Alan Guice
Caroline Kindiger
Rachel Lesler
Derek Lucas
Jaclyn Michael
Ethan Mills
Cynthia Parker
Austin Sauerbrei
Lucy Schultz
Allie Stafford
Eli Stanfield
Jared Story
Jill Weitz