Dear President McRobbie, Provost Robel, Members of the IU Board of Trustees, and Administrative Officials of Indiana University,

We respect the swift response of the university system in this time of unprecedented uncertainty. The university’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 (Coronavirus) and ensure effective teaching and learning continue during the pandemic are to be applauded.

However, concerns linger. IU’s thousands of employees, graduate, undergraduate, and otherwise, are worried about how COVID-19 will impact their work and their lives. The pandemic has cast a stark light on the inadequacies of American healthcare and its treatment of workers. We believe IU can do better.

In line with Hoosier values and the values of Indiana University, we ask that you commit to the following to ensure your employees and the communities they live and work in can be as safe as possible under these difficult conditions. These are modeled on similar requests at other universities, including Harvard and Purdue.

FAIR PAY

Maintain all workers (hourly, salaried, and student) at their employment status as of March 1st, 2020 for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak;

Ensure that all employees receive full pay for the shifts they are typically scheduled for, or average weekly pay if appropriate, even if university operations are suspended or the nature of the job prevents employees from working from home;

Provide unlimited paid sick leave, with health benefits, for employees to take care of their own illness or that of a family or household member;

Compensate essential employees in positions with medium or high risk of exposure (as per OSHA) accordingly, at least at overtime pay

HEALTHCARE

Commit to facilitating COVID-19 testing on campus, fully covering the uncovered costs of COVID-19 testing, treatment, vaccination, and associated mental health care for students and employees, and further commit to facilitating or providing insurance for uncovered employees;

Provide emergency loans for students and employees who have to pay out-of-pocket for healthcare;

HOUSING

Provide further emergency resources, including food, housing, and sanitary products, especially for students reliant on campus housing;

Reimburse students in residential housing for half of the semester fee and reimburse students and employees as appropriate for other unused services;

Sincerely,

The Indiana Graduate Workers Coalition

Campus Action for Democracy

College Democrats at IU

Respect Workers!

Bloomington Poor People’s Campaign

Students for Equity in Public Affairs

Young Democratic Socialists of America - Bloomington