A few days ago I wrote about a
Wisconsin charter school failing on labor issues. Little to no progress has been made at this time on whether custodial staff and food service employees will be union or non-union.
In Saturday's Wisconsin State Journal there was an article about the site the school has chosen for classes. It is an old church property that will be remodeled into a school. Great—they found a place for the school and it will cost less then was originally thought to lease the space. That is a good thing—more money can go towards education instead of a lease.
However, I am appalled at the arrogance of Urban League of Greater Madison President Kaleem Caire, who is proposing this charter school. While I am sure he feels that he has the best interests of the children who will attend the Madison Preparatory academy he is being short-sighted on the future of these children. I want to be clear, I have no issue with this charter school. What I have an issue with is the anti-union stance of this charter school:
AFSCME Local 60 has objected that custodial and food service workers would be nonunion and paid differently from their district counterparts, said staff representative Jennifer McCulley. The proposed Madison Prep budget lists a custodian making $26,000 the first year.
For many people, $26,000 a year is a lot of money; however, members of AFSCME Local 60 who are considered to be custodial staff start out at $32,000 a year. That is a $6,000 difference between union and non-union wages.
Kaleem Caire had this to say about the custodial staff:
"If the district wants to pick up the full cost of that, go ahead," Caire said. "A janitor is a janitor."
(Emphasis mine)
Mr. Caire, I have no doubt that you have the best interests of the children your charter school will serve. However, your statement that "A janitor is a janitor" shows a level of arrogance that I find, especially coming from the president of the Urban League, hard to swallow. A janitor is not just a janitor. They are dedicated professionals who care about the children at the schools they serve. I have friends who are custodial staff in the Madison Metropolitan School District. They work their asses off to ensure that our children's schools are clean and safe.
Tim Birkley, Vice President of AFSCME Local 60, had this to say about Mr. Caire's most recent statement:
The response of Urban League of Greater Madison President Kaleem Caire to the prospect of Madison Prep Academy employing union custodial and food service workers is exactly why many [Madison residents] have deep reservations about funding this [charter school] with public dollars […] Undoubtedly some of the parents of the low income and minority students this charter school targets are employed in custodial and food service, and undoubtedly would like a union to help them obtain a living wage, health care, and the ability to retire with dignity […] some of the students they plan to teach and nurture will grow up to count on these professions, [custodial and food service] as their source of income. Do they also not deserve the right to bargain for a life with dignity?
Dr. Martin Luther king Jr. was [assassinated] after marching with AFSCME sanitation workers in Memphis Tennessee for their right for a living wage and dignity. AFSCME continues the fight for social and economic justice for all people, for all workers, as Dr. King taught us we must to stop oppression.
Don Coyier, President AFSCME Local 60 said:
"A janitor is a janitor?" The last thing struggling students need to be exposed to is the arrogance of Kaleem Caire. The first lesson plan for Madison Prep will undoubtedly include class discrimination.
Mr. Caire, you want these children to succeed in school. But what about after they graduate? Do you want them to work in jobs where they are not fairly compensated? Jobs where they are told, "A janitor is a janitor"? Mr. Caire, rethink what you have said. You have insulted my friends and family members. You owe the custodial staff of the Madison Metropolitan School District an apology. They are far more than just janitors.