United Campus Workers of Georgia Protest at Board of Regents Meeting over Unsafe Working Conditions, Staffing Levels

On Tuesday morning, members of the United Campus Workers of Georgia-CWA Local 3265 held a protest at the Board of Regents meeting in Atlanta to raise concerns about unsafe working conditions and staffing levels at public institutions of higher education in Georgia.

As COVID-19 cases rise on campuses across the state, union members are making an urgent call for the Board to commit to no layoffs during the public health emergency, when more staff positions need to be filled in order to keep students, workers, and communities safe.

UCW members also have significant concerns about accountability and transparency at the board, in light of new information about campus housing provider Corvias Campus Living, LLC, and in response to USG's delayed response to the union's open records requests.

Since raising the alarm in August that in late May Corvias pressured the board about reopening plans, UCWGA has been working to understand the role Corvias plays at the board and on Georgia's public campuses.

"With private companies looking to cut costs, we're looking for an assurance that the university system is acting in our best interests by prioritizing health and safety, quality education, good jobs with health insurance during a pandemic, and hazard pay for essential workers on the frontlines of cleaning and care in dormitories and across campus," said Brett Tregoning, a graduate worker in the Physics department at Georgia Tech.

Members of the United Campus Workers of Georgia-CWA Local 3265 held a protest at the Board of Regents meeting in Atlanta to raise concerns about unsafe working conditions and staffing levels at public institutions of higher education across the state.