We Demand Safety and Security for Essential Student Workers at University of Illinois - Chicago

Susan Teggatz (Director of Campus Housing, University of Illinois-Chicago)

In our recent #StudentWorkerWednesdays post, USAS publicized Kait's story: “I am a 3rd year student at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) where I’ve been a Resident Assistant (RA) for almost 2 years and I’m a member of SWAN UIC - USAS Local 15. Students are still living in UIC dorms and the RAs are on the frontlines making sure our residents are safe. My job is crucial because as an RA I live alongside students and am a first responder in the residence halls. I’ve supported students with everything from their mental health to responding to dangerous facilities issues in the residence halls. We’re essential to the quality of living for UIC students and I feel like the university is taking advantage of us and is failing to pay attention to our safety and our community’s safety..." You can read the rest of Kait's story here: usas.org/studentworkerwednesdays.

Support UIC RAs during this global health crisis and sign and share this petition demanding UIC Campus Housing act now to ensure the safety and livelihoods of these essential student workers! #StudentWorkerWednesdays

To: Susan Teggatz (Director of Campus Housing, University of Illinois-Chicago)
From: [Your Name]

I am deeply concerned about the health and safety risks that UIC Resident Assistants (RAs) are facing as essential workers during this pandemic.

RAs are putting their health on the line as they continue to support their residents and the least UIC can do is meet their reasonable demands, listed below. No student worker should be asking themselves “should I stay and risk it or quit and leave?” when their housing and meals are dependent on the University.

In solidarity with RAs who are essential student workers at UIC we urge you to:
1) Provide RAs with all necessary PPE - they still don't have gloves
2) Hazard Pay of $1600 - the equivalent of an RA stipend
3) Ensure social distancing protocols - for example, stop overstaffing the desks
4) Pay Chicago’s minimum wage for any additional duties - such as extra desk duty
5) Communicate transparently - UIC needs to inform RAs of major updates

RAs need UIC Housing to take these five actions for the health and safety of all students living on campus and for essential student workers’ own health, safety and livelihoods. At this point, there have been numerous positive COVID-19 cases on campus. Some Resident Assistants don’t have a choice whether or not to stop working as an RA for their safety, because many RAs depend on the campus housing provided to them as part of their job. Without the PPE they need, such as gloves, RAs are facing health risks for not only themselves, but also other students who are currently living on campus. RAs are performing hazardous tasks as they interact with many students throughout the day during this pandemic, and the least UIC can do is pay them a stipend of $1600 for hazard pay.

Additionally, UIC housing has made matters of social distancing worse by overstaffing the desk - at times having more than the typical two people - increasing the risk of transferring and spreading COVID-19. Not only are the desks being overstaffed, but they’re also being overstaffed to do jobs that can be done remotely such as online occupancy checks. RAs’ typical desk shifts have doubled during the pandemic and for this additional work they are being compensated less than Chicago’s minimum wage. Lastly, RAs need to be informed transparently as soon as possible about where confirmed cases are, which floors and rooms are quarantining, when there are major cleanings, and any other important building updates for the health and safety of essential student workers as well as all the students still living on campus. RAs are alongside many other essential student workers including Peer Mentors, who are also calling on the UIC Housing to take action!

We need you to take action immediately, Director Taggetz, and follow through on UIC RAs’ demands!