- Neal on Why is Pam Gann President?: "At least she's a hotty though........"
- bigchris1313 on Why is Pam Gann President?: "You've really done it this time, Patrick. You just couldn't let it go..."
- Other CMCer on Why is Pam Gann President?: "Cough Jack Stark Cough..."
- CMCer on Why is Pam Gann President?: "Eh, this feels more like whining. You'd be hard pressed to find a Pres..."
- Old Timer on CMC Celeb: Isaac Goldberg: "This interview is going to the first of many skeletons in the closet f..."
Ethical Questions Surround Collins Firing
Michael Wilner of the Claremont Port Side reports that CMC’s Human Resources department may have crossed ethical lines in the firing of a Collins Dining Hall worker, Pedro Gonzalez. Gonzalez had apparently taken an leave of absence, but before returning, he learned his position had been terminated. HR maintains it stayed within protocol in handling the situation, but that protocol and its application has now been brought into question. Wilner summarizes, “The controversy, then, is threefold: if decade-old employees (if not all employees) should be given courtesy in extraordinary circumstances; if the school should modify its resources to acknowledge the huge number of Hispanics employed; and if the student body is going to take an active role in pushing for change.”
Full coverage of this issue and a number of other new articles are available at the Claremont Port Side, but for convenience, here’s the gist of the three facets Wilner mentions:
Courtesy
After making contact with the Human Resources Department – at which no one speaks Spanish – Pedro was told on January 15 that his vacation time would not be approved as an excuse of leave. Susan Cozzitarto, director of Human Resources, told him that he would have to fly back to Los Angeles to fill out the appropriate paperwork by January 19, despite a court hearing requiring his attendance in Mexico on January 30. “After almost a decade of service, you’d think they would cut him some slack,” said Carlos Rivas, CMC ‘12. “He doesn’t have the money to fly back and forth with his meager hourly wage, and a school that prides itself on community should understand that.
Language Literacy – Hispanic Employees
[CMC HR] policy requires that “it is clearly understood whether or not the position will be held open for the employee’s return.” Pedro didn’t know this policy, and neither does half the Collins staff: the manual is only printed in English, and more than half of the workers speak Spanish as a first language. Their general manager at Collins, Pam Franco, does not speak Spanish. This same problem persists for grounds workers, with 50 percent speaking English with only colloquial capacity.
Student Response
Student anger has grown across the consortium since Pedro was fired. The Worker’s Support Committee, consisting mostly of Pomona and Pitzer College students, has prepared a petition in support of his rehiring. Students from the organization cite numerous reasons to justify the move, including the fact that Pedro had more than enough vacation time to cover his absence. But their primary reason is a sense that Pedro’s language proved a liability in and of itself, in a circumstance treated with insouciance in a small, intimate campus community.
The Forum welcomes discussion on this topic, and if either party–the CMC Administration or the protesting students–would like to respond, we’d happily facilitate that discussion. Also, though we dislike republishing content, we will synidicate a story if its reporting, writing, or novelty merits it.
4 Comments
2009-04-13
17:52:56
The courtesy issue is a real issue, but if Pedro didn't communicate his situation to HR, what can they do about it?
But the language issue is totally silly. Sorry, if you work for an employer, it's your job to figure out what the rules are. Especially if you live in a country where most people speak a specific language that you don't.
The reality is that Hispanic workers should be strongly encouraged to learn English and learn the rules. A society doesn't thive when it's split down the middle.
And no, this is not an issue of racism or discrimination. People are getting angry because that's what these types do: they find issues to go nuts over. Grow up. And in the mean time, hopefully Pedro will get a fair hearing.
2009-04-13
18:09:53
I would like to echo some of the sentiments from Michael's article. The circumstances surrounding Pedro's termination are difficult. And yes, HR was within its rights in its decision to fire him. However, there is also an expectation that all staff members at Claremont McKenna be treated with respect. Upholding his termination would be a drastic measure to take in a case where miscommunication has clearly occurred.
After nearly a decade of service, the decision to fire Pedro illustrates a lack of sensitivity and understanding that is unacceptable in a small school such as Claremont McKenna. Furthermore, the resources available to the Spanish-speaking staff are inadequate, both in content and form. If the administration makes the decision to hire a predominantly Spanish-speaking staff, the resources should reflect that decision. Speaking loudly and slowly to an employee who is under duress is not an adequate solution. The inaccessibility of information regarding emergency leave rules and other regulations make CMC's unrelenting enforcement unfair and unreasonable.
Pedro is a valued member of the Claremont McKenna community. The Democrats of the Claremont Colleges and other interested students are starting a petition (http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/defend-the-rights-of-workers---defend-pedro-gonzalez) to address these concerns. If you're interested in helping, we'll be meeting Wednesday, April 15 at 8:00 in Beckett Lounge.
2009-04-13
20:06:49
Student anger? This story is two and a half months old and only a select few have openly cared about it (and I applaud those who have). Regardless, we still don't know all the facts. CMC reportedly contacted Pedro by phone (in spanish) while he was in Mexico and Pedro reportedly did not respond. While CMC's bureaucratic and unnecessary paperwork policy should not get an employee fired, if the employee purposefully ignored this phone call and did not even respond, then that is grounds for firing. There are other facts we don't know, such as this worker's past history, whether CMC was trying to get people fired to cut the budget, and whether Pedro had any benefits whiwch were taken away since Pedro was fired due to his own action's (as opposed to firing pedro for reasons not associated with him). We need the facts and presenting this story from one side only does harm for Pedro.
The real story is likely that Pedro was fired as Collins is cutting the budget. If you talk to any of the employees there, you'll notice that shifts have been changed and shortened and that hours have been cut across the board. If this is the reason for the firing, then I'm all for a mass protest, but until we know the facts, and if we keep framing this as a language issue (as opposed to an unfair firing associated with budget cuts issue), then I predict student apathy will continue.
2009-04-13
21:52:55
To Apathy:
Michael's article and my response both acknowledge the fact that CMC was within its rights when it decided to fire Pedro. You're also correct to point out that there are gaps in our knowledge (as Michael outlines, the administration refused to comment) and that the current economic state undoubtedly plays a role in any administrative decision. (For more on this, check out the Forum's post on President Gann's early retirement plan: http://cmcforum.com/news/03232009-news-brief-15-acceptance-rate-early-retirement.)
I disagree with your argument that student apathy should somehow act as a deterrent in trying to raise awareness of the present conditions facing Collins staff. What information we do posses points to several serious issues that Michael and I have both already highlighted and that you also mentioned. First, the clinical, removed manner in which Pedro's family situation was handled is startling and unacceptable in such a small community. Secondly, the convoluted, inaccessible policies and bureaucracy of HR need to be reconsidered.
You're right. Its wrong that Pedro's case has gone unexamined since January. The Worker's Support Committee met with administration on two occasions, to no avail. By going public and raising awareness, we hope to combat the very apathy you mentioned.