TEAMSTERS VOTE TO AUTHORIZE STRIKE AT RHODE ISLAND SCHOOL OF DESIGN

Important Staff Demand Larger Requirements at Preeminent Artwork Faculty

PROVIDENCE, R.I., Nov. 30, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Teamsters Native 251 members working as custodians, groundskeepers, and movers on the Rhode Island Faculty of Design (RISD) have voted to authorize a strike by a 95 p.c margin.

“These courageous women and men are becoming a member of tens of 1000’s of different college employees all throughout the nation who’re standing up and demanding that their employers cease performing like Fortune 500 firms and begin performing like establishments of upper studying,” stated Matt Taibi, Native 251 Secretary-Treasurer and Japanese Area Worldwide Vice President. “These employees have been underappreciated and undercompensated for a lot too lengthy.”

The employees took the strike authorization vote after the college refused to satisfy an inexpensive customary for wages, well being care advantages, and a retirement bundle. As of 2020, RISD has roughly 2,500 college students enrolled, an endowment of $440 million, and an working funds of $161 million.

“Universities are purported to ascribe to an ethical customary loftier than web revenue,” stated Regina Santos, a Native 251 member who serves on the union negotiating committee. “RISD says it is ‘dedicated to furthering progress in Windfall and Rhode Island by way of mutually helpful engagement with the neighborhood.’ We’re that very neighborhood, to allow them to begin in-house.”

Teamsters Native 251 represents over 6,300 employees in all kinds of industries all through Rhode Island and southern Massachusetts. For extra data, go to https://teamsterslocal251.org/.

Contact:
Matt Taibi, (401) 434-0454
[email protected] 

SOURCE Teamsters Native 251