rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/usas-demands-umd-bargain-with-afscme-1072-now?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-usas-demands-umd-bargain-with-afscme-1072-now' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> USAS - United Students Against Sweatshops https://actionnetwork.org/groups/united-students-against-sweatshops https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/255/679/normal/studentworkersafety-umdusas-banner.jpeg The university is putting both workers and students at risk by refusing to meet with the union to bargain over basic health and safety precautions. There have been numerous outbreaks on campus and while the university has instituted new regulations such as a sequester-in-place for the week of February 21-27, there were no new actions taken to further protect workers who are on the front lines of this pandemic! Right now, because there is nothing in the union contract covering pandemic working conditions, it is NOT REQUIRED for UMD to provide masks to campus workers. As a result, there are huge discrepancies in the experiences of workers doing the same jobs under different supervisors. We have heard from bus drivers that the only masks they received from the University were two (2) cloth masks back in August! If workers want more protection, they are responsible for finding and purchasing it on their own. We also have heard stories from housekeepers about not being notified when students test positive on the floor they are responsible for cleaning. While there is UMD policy in place around health and safety, it is not legally binding. Workers need a fair UNION CONTRACT, which UMD can actually be held accountable to. Other public universities in Maryland like University of MD Eastern Shore (UMES), Bowie State University (BSU), University of MD Baltimore County (UMBC), and Frostburg State University (FSU) have already done the right thing by bargaining with the AFSCME Locals on their campuses and agreeing upon a contract to keep everyone safe during the pandemic. What’s holding President Pines back? How many students and workers need to get COVID before UMD will finally agree to keep our community safe and put people over profit? https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/usas-demands-umd-bargain-with-afscme-1072-now