Dear Editor,
We, as representatives of the Independent Maintenance and Service Employees of America, are writing to share a concern with the College community and Wellesley students in particular. During the COVID-19 crisis, the number of students residing and taking classes on campus was greatly reduced. The number of union jobs on campus was also reduced. Initially, there was an increase in the number of custodial jobs so that these employees could perform extra cleaning in the dorms during the second shift and in academic buildings on the third. Those additional positions were eliminated at the end of this previous academic year.
The number of enrolled students is now back to pre-COVID levels. According to the Wellesley College Factbook (available on the College website), the grand total of students enrolled in the fall of 2019 was 2,391. According to information on the Wellesley Facts link on the College home page, the current enrollment is 2,391, exactly the same. One of the hardest hit departments in terms of loss of employees is Custodial Services. There are several vacancies due to retirements and medical leaves, which have remained open with no attempt being made to fill them. The employees in this department play a significant role in protecting our community from COVID-19 by cleaning and sanitizing buildings on campus.
Without adequate staffing, they will not be able to perform this responsibility at the same level. The Wellesley Community, and students in particular, are entitled to as safe an environment as is reasonably possible. Please express your support for staffing these vacancies by contacting your appropriate representatives.
Sincerely,
The Executive Board, IMSEUA
I encourage you to do news segments about the low number of staffing on campus, be it in Residential Life, Custodial Services, the Dean’s office, dinning services… The cost saving measures seem to have left numerous sectors of the college crucially understaffed, asking faculty and other employees to work beyond their capacities. I hope you can find out what is going on and why the college doesn’t seem to be actively responding to these shortages. Morale is very low among the food service workers.