COVID-19 has left many University of Connecticut students, who rely on their on-campus job(s) for income, without work.

Uconn Dining Services, the largest employer of students on campus, was authorized by the university to pay their student workers for their regularly scheduled hours from March 22, 2020 through April 5, 2020. This is consistent with the United States Department of Education's guidance on the matter.

However, Uconn Dining Services decided NOT to pay students their regular hours for the two weeks between March 22, 2020 through April 5, 2020.

Student managers were asked to compile a list of students who would like to use their sick time, as this is the only way the university will allow for students to be paid until our return for campus in the fall. Student managers were asked to do this without pay.

There are several issues with the way Dining Services has decided to handle the matter. Student workers in this department will not be paid for their regular hours between March 22, 2020 through April 5, 2020. This is the most concerning. Other universities, such as Eastern Connecticut State University and Central Connecticut State University, have opted to pay all their student workers, including those employed by their dining services. Other departments at Uconn, such as the Recreation Center, have decided to pay their student employees. Dining Services, however, has chosen not to pay their student workers.

Student workers from all across campus, student management included, have expressed concerns about this quick layoff. Dining Services could not function without student workers. We are a quintessential part of campus.

Not paying students that work for dining services is a slap in the face to us and tells us that we do not matter. This is something that needs to be changed.

Many students that work for Dining Services use the money they earn to pay bills. From students who work close to 40 hours in one week so they can help their parents pay bills, to students who have children they need to feed and use their paychecks to feed their families, to disabled students who are trying to use the money they were making from working to save for accessibility needs like crutches or a wheelchair, each student that works for Dining Services has their own story and their own needs that will not be met, because we have lost our income.

This petition was created by student employee Robyn Ventura-Chavez with the help and support of Dawn Schmidt, and other Dining Services student employees and student management.