Dear Colleagues,

Even before COVID-19 upended our lives, staff had to contend with deteriorating working conditions, instability, and limited input in the decisions directly impacting our livelihoods. Lack of transparency around pay, higher workloads, understaffing, and nebulous paths for advancement have made working at MICA precarious for staff.

During the pandemic, we suffered layoffs, furloughs, pay cuts, loss of benefits and pay increases, further straining our capacity to serve our community and uphold MICA’s mission, all while being denied the dignity of a say in how our community could weather this crisis together.

As the fallout from the pandemic continues to disrupt higher education, this already untenable situation is reaching a breaking point. We have a choice. As the campus reopens for the fall, we do not have to return to the status quo. We can sit back and hope MICA makes the right decisions, or we can unite together to make sure our voices are heard.

We ask that you join us in holding MICA accountable to the following principles by signing your confidential union card today to join SEIU Local 500! https://act.seiu.org/a/mica-staff

A Union for MICA Staff

Only by organizing a union will we have the power to have a real say in our working conditions. Without a union, we are subject to decisions made without our input. When we come together as staff, we can use our strength in numbers to ensure access to the proper tools and support to safely do our jobs to the best of our abilities. Our institution will be stronger when staff has an actual seat at the table.

Transparency and Communication

True equity can only be achieved through transparency in communication from the administration regarding our pay, roles, and advancement opportunities. We must hold the college accountable to campus-wide policies that are fair and consistent, promote the common good, protect the most vulnerable, and create a more just institution.

Health and Safety

We need policies that promote the well-being of staff and the safety of our entire community. We need proper safety equipment to avoid injury and illness. We, especially MICA frontline workers, need to be part of the critical conversation around campus reopening. We need to be part of this crucial decision-making process to ensure absolute transparency regarding MICA’s strategy to allow our community back on campus.

Dignity and Respect

We play a vital role in upholding MICA’s mission and supporting students, faculty, and administrators. We bring a wealth of experience and expertise to our positions, and our careers deserve cultivating at MICA. When we are treated as if we are interchangeable, the institution and students suffer. Our wages and working conditions should reflect the value of our hard work. MICA could not function without us.
 
We must be united. We cannot have just a select few administrators making important decisions about our safety and our livelihoods. It should not have been that way before, and it cannot be that way now.

We ask you again to join us in holding MICA accountable by signing your confidential union card today to join SEIU Local 500! https://act.seiu.org/a/mica-staff

In Solidarity,

Madison Coan
Siân Evans
María Emilia Duno
John Woods
Kirk Amaral Snow
Sidney Champagne
Art Soontornsaratool
Evan Suggs
Raven Warner
Lauren Watters
Sarah Jung
Renee Sicchitano
Gilles Stromberg
Mackenzie Zeckwoski
Vanessa Perrigo
Katie Faulstich
Benjamin McNutt
Maddie White
Travis Levasseur
Conrado Pasion
Derek Quinlan
Maren Henson
Aster Lobel
Will Bryson
Brian Dillon
John Bohl
Andrea Regenberg
Leanne Hafer-Dippong
Sydney Long
Natovian McLeod
Karl Ericksen
Carla Brown
Deborah Viles
Logan Schoeberlein
Laura Birdsall
Jamie Gillis
Jordan Franklin
Andrea Dixon
Mary Alessi
Kristen Carroll
Julia Clouser
Gabrielle Gomez
Cory Cone
Keri Watley
Michael Tager
Tru Ludwig
Danielle Bowly
Ida Greenberg
Roger Woods
Brian Hagermann
Desolina Fletcher
Becky Slogeris
Schafer Collins
Elle Jones
Alex Huss
Rachel Martino
Andre Urquheart
Sophia Belkin
Morgan Frailey