A Wesleyan janitorial contractor, American Building Maintenance (ABM), has informed the University that it plans to conduct interviews with its janitors later this week, according to Director of University Communications Justin Harmon. The ABM review of worker conduct is in response to several allegations of abuse made by Wesleyan janitors against one of their on-site supervisors.
On Thursday, eight janitors in the English as a Second Language (ESL) class wrote accounts of specific abuse cases they claim to have either experienced or witnessed. The most serious accusations were ones of racial degradation, safety endangerment and physical intimidation.
“We have provided [ABM] with a list of supervisory issues we would like them to explore based on our reading of the allegations that have surfaced to date,” Harmon said. “We have advised the supervisor facing these allegations not to exhibit any of the behaviors they reflect. If we are informed of any wrongdoing while the investigation is ongoing, we will request the supervisor be suspended.”
Seven signed testimonies will be delivered tomorrow to José Rodriguez, the janitors’ union 32BJ delegate representing the workers. One testimony was written anonymously and can only be used in unofficial discussion.
Sasha Freudenberg ’05, the ESL liaison to the United Student Labor Action Coalition (USLAC), has unsigned copies of the testimonies and is using them to inform the Administration of the weight and seriousness of the charges.
Rodriguez said he will attach the testimonies to a formal grievance regarding the supervisors alleged misconduct and send it to ABM. He also plans to review two cases in which janitors claim ABM violated their contract by disregarding specified seniority benefits.
The union representative went on to explain that if the claims are true, ABM is in violation of contract obligations for neglecting to enforce a safe workplace and refusing to recognize the hours two janitors worked as temporary employees, thus effecting their seniority status. Acknowledging the total hours would enable the workers to earn more from their contracts in terms of salary and vacation days. Rodriguez cautioned that at times workers are unclear about the fine details of their contracts in terms of time and pay.
“Sometimes they think it’s a violation, but it isn’t always,” he said.
It was due to such misinterpretations that Rodriguez had to evaluate the claims before adding them to the grievance of behavioral misconduct. Rodriguez was most adamant, though, about ensuring that this investigation—which will be the second conducted by ABM in relation to these claims—be done in an unbiased manner.
“People are afraid and intimidated,” he said. “[ABM] says they will conduct another investigation, but it needs to be done with a neutral translator. They have told me I cannot be present.”
Rodriguez claimed, along with the janitors, that the first investigation conducted by ABM Assistant Regional Vice President Mary Ellen Weiner was unfair, as all the workers were individually questioned in the presence of their managers who had a history of siding with the accused supervisor.
Weiner, who is also handling the current re-evaluation of abuse claims, has not responded to any questions related to the case.
The translation of testimonials on Thursday was instrumental in enabling workers to voice their claims. Freudenberg was one student that oversaw the process of gathering worker comments.
“We were very concerned with creating an unbiased atmosphere,” Fruedenberg said, who explained that he and his fellow ESL tutors had to be professional in light of the fact that in a previous interview with an ABM representative, one worker said he had felt pressured to sign a petition claiming abuse by his supervisor.
Freudenberg said he announced during class that workers would have the opportunity to write a testimony if they wished. He also emphasized the fact that at Wesleyan, the only person to see the signed testimony would be each worker’s individual tutor. Afterwards, they would be given to volunteer, Spanish-speaking students to be translated into English, sealed in an envelope and delivered to a union representative. Freudenberg added that he instructed all tutors not to pressure the employees to write a testimony.
Harmon predicted that ABM should have the results of its investigation at some point next week. Freudenberg and USLAC members Meggie Harvey ’07 and Erin Moore ’07 are in communication with Rodriguez and Marcia Bromberg, Vice President of Finance and Administration, encouraging the University to do all it can to ensure the investigation is carried out justly.
“We now have signed testimony showing that the workers safety has been endangered, organizers have been intimidated, and numerous racist comments have been made,” Freudenberg said. “We’re confident that ABM and Wesleyan will recognize that we all have the responsibility to put a stop to this for good.”
USLAC held a meeting Monday night to discuss ways they could continue to support the janitors. Freudenberg stressed that ESL tutors and USLAC plan to follow the case and continue to facilitate communication between ABM or Wesleyan and the janitors if necessary.
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