Dear Editor:
Despite the Ball State University administration still raking in lucrative funds from its numerous fees, generous donations and state tax dollars and continuing to construct new buildings unabated, the new administration has chosen to slash long-established benefits for service workers to offset its ever-shrinking budget under the pretense of combating alleged "absentee abuse." The "absentee abuse" cited involves 2 such cases in 3 years.
Contrary to our social conditioning, just because an elitist in a suit says something doesn't make it true. DON'T BE FOOLED; sick days were eliminated, not just reshuffled. Why was this imperative imposed only on service staff, not on management?
A budgetary shortfall truly exists because of disturbingly lower admissions, but why would enrollment take such a downturn? Could it be public reaction to the self-righteous insensitivity displayed over the tragic shooting deaths of two students a short while ago? No, it must be due to service workers having it too good. Following the grandstand forced retirement of popular student advocate and scapegoat Douglas McConkey, all other cuts have been from the bottom, as usual.
Our nation, state and community have survived tougher economic times than these without need to molest worker benefits that have been in place for 40 years, so why does this happen now? More than ever, with globalization and an anti-labor president and governor in office, it's BECAUSE THEY CAN.
Is Ball State so greedy and short-sighted that it can't see its unforgiving new attendance rules for staff members will expose students to sick workers, or is the university targeting its middle-aged work force and trying to achieve its own "master race" of younger, healthier employees through elimination?
Ongoing concerns of managerial inefficiency and authority abuse submitted to President Jo Ann Gora by former union president Chris Johnson were typically dismissed, and "coincidentally" followed by elimination of his custodial job. This is the new Cold War: BLUE BLOOD VERSUS BLUE COLLAR!
We must emerge from complacency and TRULY UNITE in opposition to prevent our livelihoods from becoming casualties. Contact state and local representatives, news media and Ball State administrators to tell them the public will not support an enemy of working families!
Rob Landfert
15-year Ball State residence hall custodian
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