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| AUC students and workers strike. Photo Credit, Al Masry Al Youm |
Dear readers
In a previous post,
Back to Campus Egyptian Style, I mentioned that a strike had started on Sunday, September 11, 2011 at the American University in New Cairo, where I teach public policy.
Today is Thursday, and the strike has gotten successfully bigger, more dramatic and stressful. A few days ago, the students and security guards let in all the students' cars, even those who had not paid parking fees. The result was a massive traffic pileup. I asked the bus driver to let me out, and I walked with my three year old over the sand and through Gate 4 onto campus. A kind student held one of my son's hands, and I held the other one, to make sure he did not get run over or trampled.
There are a host of constituencies and a host of demands. Among the demands are that the recent 9% increase to student tuition be reduced. The students believe it is too high. The custodians, security guards and desert landscaping crew want two days off a week, as well as a minimum wage of 2000 Egyptian Pounds (roughly 400 dollars). I am more sympathetic to the workers' demands, and less sympathetic to the students' demands. There is no question that the workers at the university are underpaid and overworked, as I discussed in a previous post.
The Custodian Project.
Custodians at AUC make about 1100 EGP (roughly 200 dollars). That being said, 1) the University faces a punishing deficit of over 8 million dollars 2) President Anderson increased wages of all essential workers as one of her first acts of coming into office in January and 3) AUC workers are paid far more than workers in similar positions at comparable universities. Essentially, the students and staff want the university to reduce revenues, while increasing costs. This does not work. It does not work in the United States Congress, it does not work in my house, and it won't work at AUC.
Yesterday there was a meeting in Bassily Hall. The University President, the Vice President for Planning and Finance, and the Provost were all there to answer questions. I attended that meeting. From my perspective, I felt that the President was listening and I felt that she was reasonable. She said that the University agreed that they needed more transparency in budgeting, and that they needed to resolve negotiations with striking groups such as the security guards, the custodians and the desert landscaping team more quickly. She also said they would consider freezing tuition for incoming students. Some custodians spoke, some students spoke, and some security guards spoke. There were many faculty present, but none spoke.
At the same time as the meeting in Bassily Hall, there was a "counter-meeting," in HUSS. The students and workers set up an opposite meeting at the same time as the president's meeting. They came and got students out of our meeting, and marched towards HUSS. They were accompanied by some wonderful drum playing Folkloric Musical students. There was some fantastic drumming, a little dancing, and a lot of revolutionary spirit. It was quite a show. I felt a pang of guilt as I saw some academic colleagues walking in the other directions with the students, while I walked the other direction, towards the administration.
I am a union person, and in my heydey, when Lisa Anderson was my professor at Columbia, I participated in protests against my university. Out of solidarity, I attended the first rally on Sunday. I cannot gainsay the students' spirit. I am really happy to see the students and workers working together. That is wonderful. I think they have some points, but I also feel really badly for the administration, which has been slashing costs, retiring and firing staff, and cutting faculty wages. I wonder if I was like this twenty years ago? Did I not listen, or try to hear the administration's perspective? Was my cause more just, and the Columbia administration less responsive? Memories.
I also want to note that the administration opened negotiations with all the constituencies, and the response of the students was to not attend the negotiations but to simply provide a written list of demands.
Yesterday, the students occupied the administration building. There has been plenty of local news coverage of the strike, which generally exaggerates the size of the crowds. It also does not seem to be giving correct figures re salaries. The average custodian at AUC makes 1100 EGP. After deductions, that person may take home 750 EGP. It is important to note that the custodians struck in 2010, and did receive a raise at the first of 2011.
Here is some press coverage
AUC students on strike
AUC students and workers launch strike against soaring fees and wage cuts
Here is an email from President Lisa Anderson to the AUC Community, dated September 13, 2011.
Dear AUC Community,
As
I wrote in yesterday’s message, several members of the senior
administration and I all cleared our schedules today in anticipation of
meetings with each of the groups who had identified grievances and
articulated demands in the protests of the last few days, as had been
arranged by their representatives.
This
morning, however, new sets of representatives, whose members are listed
below, emerged and instead of participating in the scheduled meetings,
they chose to submit sets of written requests. Over the course of the
day, we reviewed each set of requests, and our responses are also
outlined below.
I
am pleased at the progress we have made today and applaud the skill of
each of the groups in articulating a clear set of concerns. We are
aware, however, that there are other groups of workers, in the library
and elsewhere, whose concerns are not represented in any of these
discussions, and we are committed to continuing this kind of
consultation as a mechanism to identify and address shortcomings or
areas in need of improvement at the University.
To
allow all members of the AUC community the opportunity to discuss the
current events on campus, I would like to invite you to attend what will
now be our first University Forum of the year during assembly hour in
Bassily Auditorium. To ensure ample time for discussion, we will hold a
special extended session, from 1 to 3 pm.
Below
are the representatives for each group who have identified the issues
that are listed, as are the demands they brought forward and the
University administration’s response.
Thank you,
Lisa Anderson
-----------------
Sector Representatives
Desert Development Center: Antar Nageh, Seoudi Hassan, Khaled Eid and Hossam Mohammed
Custodial workers: Walid Shebl, Mostafa Mohallel, Nasr El Saqa, Andil Ashour and Mohamed Khamees
Students: Ahmed Ezzat, SU vice president; Mohammed Hassan, student; Ahmed Alaa, SU president; and Marrie France, student
Security: Khaled Ibrahim, Ahmed Saad, Hemya Sayeed, Mohamed Saad, Ayman Sayed Aly and Ahmed El Sayed Ahmed
Faculty adviser: Sameh Naguib, adjunct faculty, SAPE
---------------------
Demands and Responses
Desert Development Center/Campus Landscape
1- “Meal allowance of LE 200”
The
monthly meal allowance of LE 200 was included in the November 2010 pay
scale revision with the understanding that no additional meal allowance
would be considered.
2- “Friday and Saturday off”
All
workers at the DDC currently have Friday off. Those who work on Friday
do so at their request. Otherwise, official working hours for Level 2
and 3 staff are full days Sunday through Thursday, and a half day on
Saturday. As long as the required 43 hour working week is met, however,
working hours can be adjusted to permit staff to have longer weekend
breaks. In fact, non-irrigation staff are encouraged to work these 43
hours during the five-day period Sunday through Thursday. For irrigation
staff, a rotation will be established to permit individual staff
members to work five days a week while ensuring that the landscape is
irrigated several days a week.
3- “Change the uniforms”
Uniforms
are ordered once a year, and the uniforms for 2010-2011 were ordered in
June 2011. We are looking into the possibility of canceling the order
for the half of the uniforms that have not yet been received so that we
can consider alternative designs. A committee composed of managers and
staff will be formed by the end of this month to deliberate on
alternatives that may be available within the present budget allocation.
4- “The switch of temporary hires to permanent full-time employees”
Due
to the current hiring freeze at the University, the DDC is not able to
move all workers to regular employee contracts. Moreover, it is typical
of any operation of this size to rely on the use of non-permanent
employees in a number of areas. All staff on a temporary basis are
clearly informed of their provisional status at the University when they
are hired. The DDC landscape unit has a number of vacant positions
presently "frozen" due to budgetary constraints. When these positions
are open for recruitment, seasonal workers with appropriate experience
are invited to apply for the positions. When there are applicants of
equal merit, an applicant with previous successful work experience at
AUC will be given preference.
5- “Replace the bus”
The
University administration has agreed to include the landscape and
irrigation staff bus within its AUC administered transportation service.
The contract between the DDC and the present service provider will be
cancelled with appropriate notice in the next two months, and the DDC
workers will be provided transportation through the University’s
contractors.
6- “Minimum wage of LE 2,000”
All
DDC workers receive, at a minimum no less than LE 1,180 as a base
salary, which is the market rate for landscaping and gardening workers
in New Cairo. AUC reviews its pay scale periodically and makes
adjustments to reflect labor market changes.
Security
1- “Raise the level of wages from Level 2 to Level 4”
Security
guards at AUC are spread across Levels 2 to 5. The determination of
level is contingent upon years of service and performance. As of
September 2011, the market salary for Level 2 security officers is LE
1,320 and the market salary for Level 4 security officers is LE 2,630.
To be eligible for movement to Level 4 placement, security officers must
have at least 10 years of experience. All security guards at AUC who
are at Level 2 have been working for the University for less than five
years, and can expect to progress in the levels as they accumulate
experience at the University and good performance reviews.
2- “Return of the additional 60 hours of overtime”
In
the past overtime was often used not to compensate staff who worked
exceptionally long or late hours but to reward good behavior (and it was
withheld to punish bad behavior). We do not believe that it is healthy
or safe for staff to routinely work 60 hours of actual overtime a month
and hence we are moving gradually to ensure that overtime is paid for
time actually worked, and is allocated fairly and safely. Therefore,
this year we have moved the individual monthly overtime limit to 48
hours, instead of 60.
3- “Provide risk allowance”
The
job specifications and requirements are reflected in the placement of
the job on the appropriate level on the pay scale. All security guards
receive medical and life insurance. The University regularly evaluates
the risk level for each job and the market rate in determining the
appropriate level.
4- “Shift to the technical level”
There
are discrepancies in the benefits packages provided to staff at the
same level which are the legacy of an older and now discarded system
that categorized workers as Staff A or Staff B. We are
aware of this inequity and expect that the report recommending a
mechanism to rectify it will be ready by November 1, 2011.
5- “Shift security on the buses to permanent employees”
After
the January 25th revolution, the University added security guards on
buses as a temporary measure, which was deemed a necessary but
additional unanticipated expense. All security guards on buses were
brought on with the full understanding that they are temporary
employees, and that their contracts would end.
6- “Consideration of years of experience and sequence of degrees in the hiring process”
The
University deeply appreciates all members of its security force,
especially those with more than a decade of dedicated service. In light
of this, the University reviewed the distribution of guards across
levels. Seven cases were identified of guards on Level 3, who have
worked at AUC for more than 10 years and should have been on Level 4.
The University will move them to Level 4, effective September 2011. In
addition, 20 security guards in Levels 4 and 5, who have been working at
AUC for more than 10 years, were not receiving salaries consistent with
their time and level, and they will receive increases to bring them to
the market value for their level (which will be above their colleagues
on the same level who have less experience). To fund these increases,
the University will reallocate a portion of the overtime budget and will
not fill vacancies in the security office.
7- “Return of terminated security personnel”
No
security guards have been terminated this year. Several contracts have
not been renewed; a decision that may reflect either performance-based
issues or changing operational needs of the University. The termination
of an employee, on the other hand, requires an elaborate process and the
approval of not only the direct supervisor, but also the area head.
8- “The departure of Dr. Mahmoud Zouk”
The University does not discuss the employment of specific individuals.
Custodians
1- “LE 200 for meal allowance”
The
monthly meal allowance of LE 200 was included in the November 2010 pay
scale revision with the understanding that no additional meal allowance
would be considered.
2- “Take Friday and Saturday off”
All
custodial staff currently take Friday off. In September of 2010,
Saturday was a regular workday for all custodial staff. After
negotiations with custodial workers last year, the University began in
November 2010 providing all workers with one Saturday off per month.
This means that workers have a five-day work week once a month. AUC is
now prepared to arrange an additional five-day work week in each month,
thereby moving half way toward giving all custodial staff two days off
and a 35-hour work week. The second day off will not be a Saturday for
all workers, but will be provided on a rotating schedule to ensure the
University is able to maintain the required level of custodial service
on Saturday. This will be achieved through the reallocation of resources
in the housekeeping unit.
3- “Appointment of casual hire workers”
The
use of temporary employees is a common management method to cover
fluctuations in University needs during peak periods. All staff on a
temporary basis are clearly informed of their provisional status at the
University when they are hired.
Students
1- “Removal of 9 percent tuition fee increase for 2011-2012”
Any
continuing student not able to fund his or her tuition will be provided
with assistance sufficient to permit him or her to complete his or her
degree. This is thanks to the larger pool of financial aid, which is
about $26 million, including a recent million dollar gift earmarked for
this purpose. There are still ample funds available and all students
requiring assistance should apply. As explained in earlier messages, the
University is not able to cancel the increase.
2- “A ceiling on tuition fees for continuing students”
A
ceiling will not be placed on tuition fees for continuing students.
Once again, however, the University will ensure that no student is
prevented from continuing at AUC because of financial need. Payment
plans will be introduced next semester that will allow our students and
parents to select from a range of more flexible payment options.
3- “Effective
representation of students during the decision-making process in
strategic decisions that impact the lives of all students”
The
University currently has student representation in the University
Senate, including on the Senate Budget Committee, but would strongly
encourage more active participation on the part of students in the
decision making process. The administration reiterates a standing offer
to student representatives to contribute their creative problem-solving
skills in helping to address the current budget deficit. The
University’s 2012 budget will be reviewed in an open forum on September
20 and the associated documents placed on the Web site. Any and all
suggestions on how the University can meet its deficit and enhance its
services are welcome.
4- “Take into account the general principles of human and employee rights in matters of personnel affairs”
The
University subscribes fully to all principles of fairness and human
dignity in all of its practices. Any situations where policies or
practices do not reflect that belief should be identified and will be
remedied.
5- “Development of educational services at the University in order to upgrade the status and name of AUC”
Provost
Medhat Haroun recently sent an e-mail to the AUC community providing an
overview of the current plan to further enhance the University’s
academic programs. We encourage all students to read the e-mail overview
and interested students may also request a copy of the plan from the
provost’s office. All comments and suggestions are welcome.
6- “Prevent any security interference in the political activities of students”
The
University’s new freedom of expression policy expressly prohibits
interference in the expression of any view, political or otherwise, by
anyone as long as the regular operation of the University is not
disturbed.
7- “Do not hold students accountable for absence during the protest”
All
members of the AUC community, including students, are accountable for
their actions and the associated consequences. Students who elect to
miss class do so of their own volition and fully knowing the associated
consequences. It is not consistent with the mission of the University or
its level of academic excellence to expect that the administration
would interfere with academic policies regarding class attendance.
