A campus workers union at the University of Virginia (UVA) has launched a mutual fund in order to provide university staff with personal protective equipment (PPE) and raise money in the form of an emergency fund for potential furloughs as in-person instruction began Tuesday.
The union, United Campus Workers of Virginia at UVA (UCWVA-UVA), announced the formation of the fund via press release.
The announcement comes after concerns and reports of campus workers having limited or insufficient PPE and the possibility of workers being furloughed or fired if UVA is forced to close because of COVID-19, the release said.
“It is deeply concerning that workers are fearing for their jobs and personal health after all of UVA’s reassurances, and points to more of the same lack of transparency and preparedness which has defined the university’s response to this crisis, “Rosa Hamilton, a graduate student and union steering committee member, said in the release. “And all of this after deciding to press ahead with in-person classes, a decision opposed by workers, students, and Charlottesville including UVA’s own Student Council, Mayor Nikuyah Walker and the Charlottesville Human Rights Commission, and UCWVA-UVA.”
The union is aiming to raise $3,000 by September 16 through financial and in-kind donations by partnering with student groups such as UVA mutual aid and UVA Young Democratic Socialists of America, according to the release.
Formed in late August, the union is still calling for UVA to switch to online classes because of COVID-19 concerns.
The Virginia Star reached out to UVA spokesperson Brian Coy for comment on the fund but did not get a response by the time of publication.
After delaying the start of in-person classes, UVA began normal instruction Tuesday despite concerns from multiple parties, including an article in the C-Ville Weekly, a local Charlottesville newspaper, challenging the decision.
In an August 28 news release confirming the plan to keep students on campus, university leadership said: “We know some will be delighted to hear this news and others will be disappointed. To be frank, it was a very difficult decision, made in the face of much uncertainty, and with full awareness that future events may force us to change course.”
Currently, there are 257 total positive cases at UVA with 214 of those cases being students. There were four new COVID-19 hospitalizations yesterday. Five percent of student quarantine room are occupied and one percent of student isolation rooms are occupied, according to the UVA COVID tracker.
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Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “University of Virginia Campus” by Saadiq Hasan. CC BY-SA 4.0.
