You probably saw “ND loves our workers!” and other comments scribbled in chalk on the sidewalks last week. These comments advertised Notre Dame’s Worker Appreciation Week (WAW). I will admit, for most of the week I wasn’t really sure what WAW was about. Was it about recognizing all Notre Dame employees, such as professors, dining hall workers and even part-time student workers? Or was there a specific group of Notre Dame workers this week was dedicated to?
After attending the final WAW event, the Labor Cafe in Geddes Hall, I discovered that the event was dedicated to discussing the issues faced by Notre Dame staff, such as the food service workers and grounds crew. The cafe was an eye-opening experience, and after hearing the stories shared during the event, I agreed with everyone there that something needs to be done. Although WAW is technically over, there are still ways we can appreciate and support Notre Dame employees. The ideas below encourage us to go beyond WAW and create a community of respect and appreciation for those who make Notre Dame what it is today.
Talk to the employees
Student-employee interaction was one of the recurring themes discussed during the Labor Cafe. Some of the students said that after talking to Notre Dame employees, they learned that their favorite part of their job is talking to the students because it reminds them that they are “more than a blue uniform.” Another student went on to say that they met an office worker who had only talked to a student three times during the six years they have worked at the university. While it is of course easy for us to overlook these things in our busy everyday lives, we should all try to interact with and even befriend the workers we see on campus; I’m sure many of us already do. Who knows, it could make that person’s day!
Stay informed
Another theme discussed during the cafe, and a major theme of WAW in general, was workers’ rights. During the cafe, I heard about the struggles that many ND workers face in terms of pay, benefits, work schedules and more. If I had not gone to this cafe, I probably would not have known about the workers’ rights issues that are happening all around me. Although the Higgins Labor RAP events are finished for this school year, they will presumably continue next year. The talks are usually an hour long and are packed with stories and data that will keep you informed about the labor movements in Notre Dame and beyond. Stay informed, because as the WAW web page says “ND workers’ rights are human rights.”
Get involved
If you attended any of the WAW events and were inspired or are interested in any way, get involved! The school year may be wrapping up, but certain clubs, like the Progressive Student Alliance (who sponsored WAW), always welcomes new members, no matter the time of year. By getting involved, you can make a real difference in the life of a ND employee, as evidenced by the stories told by students at the Labor Cafe.
Use your talents
A sociology professor at the cafe said, “You will only be here for a few years. Then you will go to law school, med school, whatever. In any case, you will move on and these workers will stay here.” A community member added to the professor’s statement: “Now you all are bright students, talented students. Why not use your talents to make a difference in the lives of these workers?” In short, most of us will not spend the rest of our lives near campus, so we might as well use the time we have to help improve working conditions on campus. If you’re interested in workers’ rights, consider joining the PSA, or using your unique talents to create a cause that benefits the lives of Notre Dame workers.
WAW may be over, but that doesn’t mean Notre Dame workers should return to being “blue uniforms.” If more of us get involved and use our talents during our time on campus, we can improve the working conditions for those who work to make our Notre Dame experience the best it can be.
XOXO, HCND
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