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March 23, 2005

Dear President DeGioia:

I am transmitting for your consideration a proposal that reflects the University's ongoing work on behalf of contract employees. I recommend that you accept this proposed "Just Employment" policy as a way to build on the University's commitment to all who work at Georgetown. This proposal was developed after sustained consultation with the Advisory Committee on Business Practices (ACBP), a formal committee of faculty, staff and students that advises me on wage and compensation issues.

It is helpful to note that in recent years Georgetown has taken steps to evaluate and enhance the compensation of lower-salaried workers. We implemented a policy to provide all contract employees with access to a quality, affordable health care plan, which means that the minimum total compensation for fulltime contract workers is $11.33/per hour. Also, last year, Georgetown established the ACBP, which brings together stakeholders for analysis, dialogue and action. Finally, University policy ensures that, effective July 1, 2005, all full time directly-hired University employees will earn a minimum total compensation of at least $14.08/per hour.

As chair of the ACBP, I want to acknowledge the thoughtful, collaborative and productive efforts of the committee to understand compensation issues and recommend steps to make a meaningful difference for contract workers. I am grateful for their dedication and ongoing work.

At yesterday's committee meeting, I indicated that I would forward to University leaders, as a next step of our work, the attached proposal. Reflecting much of the best thinking of the ACBP, the proposal includes a commitment to:

• Increase total compensation package for full-time contract workers to $13.00/per hour by July 1, 2005 and to $14.00/per hour by July 1, 2007;
  
  
• Affirm Georgetown's safe and harassment-free environment in which all working members have the right to freely associate and organize without intimidation; and,
  
  
• Provide to contract workers with access to certain non-wage resources such as library privileges, English as a Second Language courses, transportation shuttles, and general financial planning information.

These steps are valuable for workers and will make a real difference.

At the same time, it is important to acknowledge that the ACBP did not reach consensus on every issue brought before us. For example, the committee has not come to closure on issues such as the feasibility of card check neutrality for the University and its contractors, the appropriate economic indices for determining wage increases after 2008, the methodology used to calculate annual wage adjustments for Georgetown employees, and whether the compensation rate should reflect the cost of living in the District of Columbia or in the metropolitan area. These questions are significant and require analysis and conversation in the ACBP and within our community.

In my judgment, the needs of workers and the University community are best served by moving forward to implement measures that will expeditiously benefit contract employees, especially in regards to compensation, while acknowledging the importance of continued work on outstanding issues.

At present, the existing "living wage" ordinances in the Metropolitan region establish total compensation levels ranging from $10.50 per hour to $11.36 per hour. Two days ago, in his State of the City speech, Mayor Anthony Williams proposed a Washington, D.C. "living wage" ordinance of $9.50 per hour with health benefits and $10.50 without. Clearly, the approach we have developed with great assistance from the ACBP significantly exceeds regional norms and practice, and is consistent with our Catholic and Jesuit identity.

Sincerely,

Spiros Dimolitsas, Ph.D.
Senior Vice President