On and off campus, groups are rallying to support the unionization efforts of Penn's security guards.
The Philadelphia branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has sent a letter to Penn President Amy Gutmann urging her to support the guards, and the United Minorities Council -- a Penn group that represents 17 multicultural organizations -- has plans to send a similar letter in the near future.
J. Whyatt Mondesire, the president of the Philadelphia branch of the NAACP, said that labor issues have always been a concern of the organization. He said that the NAACP is getting involved because the vast majority of AlliedBarton workers at Penn are minorities.
"As we saw the conditions of some of the workers of AlliedBarton," Mondesire said, "we found it was an issue to step into."
In the letter, dated Oct. 7, Mondesire asked Gutmann for a "clarification from the University as to your policy about the unionization of contractors and how you enforce these policies."
It continued: "As AlliedBarton's employer you also hold some responsibility for this company's behavior."
Mondesire said that he has yet to receive any response from the University but that he will continue to attempt to meet with Gutmann.
Recently, NAACP members participated in a march on Temple's campus, where AlliedBarton guards are also trying to unionize.
"We could have a few thousand people out there at Penn's campus, but I hope it doesn't come to that," Mondesire said, adding that there are still a number of steps the NAACP would go through before making such a demonstration.
Katrina Jurn, who sits on the board of the UMC, said her group's letter to Gutmann will encourage the president to meet with the guards to hear their concerns.
"She needs to come out strongly and support living wages for all University employees," the College senior said.
Jurn added that the UMC would like to meet with Gutmann to discuss the larger issue of living wages for all workers on campus.
The UMC is planning to sponsor events to raise awareness of the security guards' situation. Though plans are tentative, Jurn said to expect "something on Locust Walk" within the next two weeks.
Another group on campus, the Race Dialogue Project -- an organization that attempts to encourage conversation on race and racism -- has also involved itself in the security-guard issue.
"As a Penn student, I'm concerned about the Allied guards," said College senior Fatimah Muhammad, one of the lead facilitators of the RDP.
Though the date is not yet firm, in the first week of November the group plans to hold a panel on the topic.
Security guards, professors and a representative from AlliedBarton will be invited to sit on the panel.
