The proposed code would impose new guidelines on contractors employed by the College. According to the Gazette, under the fair labor code, contractors would be required to provide benefits including, but not limited to, Social Security, health insurance and workman's compensation to all employees.
The group of students met with the trustees of Mount Holyoke Thursday afternoon. According to the Gazette, the group presented the trustees with 1,000 ballots signed by students, faculty and staff who support the fair labor code.
According to the Gazette, the students had proposed the labor code to administrators this past December. Administrators rejected the proposal in December, and, according to the Gazette, currently do not believe the adoption of a fair labor code is a crucial enough issue for them to contemplate it now.
"I think it unlikely that the trustees would involve themselves in something that is very much a management issue," Mary Jo Maydew, vice-president for finance and administration at Mount Holyoke, told the Gazette. "I think it is unlikely that the issue will be re-opened. A group of folks have had a full opportunity in the process that has just ended."
Under the code, contractors would also be required to start paying a minimum wage of $12 per hour for all College employees, including those working under factual agreements. The fair labor code would also prevent College officials from taking sides in any union organization among College employees and it would instate measures to ensure that contractors and College administrators consistently follow the code.
Maydew told the Gazette that the proposed minimum wage could be adopted for College employees. However, according to Maydew, it would be difficult to require contractors employed by the College to pay their employees a unilateral minimum wage.
According to the Gazette, there are currently a small number of colleges and universities which are considering labor codes similar to the one suggested by the Fair Labor Code Coalition at Mount Holyoke.