On December 30th of last year, Initial Cleaners, who employs the University’s twenty-nine janitors, agreed to recognize the janitors’ union in a contract with Service Employees International Union (SEIU).

However, according to USLAC member Olivia deBree ‘01, the janitor’s negotiation process did not end with their admission into SEIU.

"Now that the janitors have been unionized, we need to ensure that they have a contract that will guarantee them a living wage, a pension, health benefits, and job security," deBree said. "A lot of this will rest on President Bennet."

According to deBree, President’s Bennet role in the negotiations is integral because the University pays Initial a certain amount for their services, which then determines how much money Initial has to provide benefits to its workers.

"If Bennet acknowledges his responsibility and gives Initial the go-ahead, there’s a good chance that Initial will probably agree to the benefits...[But] if he remains inactive, it could seriously impair the janitors’ chances," deBree said.

"Wesleyan stands firm in its position that it will not interfere in this negotiation," said institutional spokesperson Bill Holder in a statement.

Last week USLAC began circulating a petition among members of the faculty.

As of Monday, 43 professors had signed the petition.

Associate Professor of History and American Studies Claire Potter, who signed the petition, said she feels that Wesleyan should not prevent the janitors from securing their benefits.

"I think everyone should have the right to unionize. In fact, I wish the teachers could unionize," Potter said. "What I hope is that the University will stand aside and not prevent the [efforts] of its workers."

Potter also said that she supported USLAC’s efforts for the janitors.

"I think they’re wonderful and I really admire them." she said.

Many of the janitors also appreciated the efforts of USLAC.

"I felt extremely happy with the collaboration of the students and am very thankful," said janitor Henry Gonzalez.

Of the twenty-nine janitors at Wesleyan, twenty-seven are Latino and two are Polish. A statement released by USLAC
members highlighted the importance that they feel race plays in these negotiations.

"Our society has a racial hierarchy. As we all know, minorities are over represented in ‘institutions of failure," welfare, imprisonment, and poverty. The lowest paid workers on Wesleyan’s campus are Latino," said the USLAC statement.

"We appreciate President Bennet’s overtures about prejudice at the Diversity Seminar last week; however, we cannot eradicate prejudice if we’re perpetuating it by ensuring that minority employees on this campus are poor."

A tentative meeting between the students, janitors and SEIU to discuss further negotiations is scheduled for Friday, Feb. 11.