James English, senior director of Nutrition Services at the University Health System, announced yesterday that Hospital cafeteria employee Richelle Burress will be reinstated and that she would be allowed to wear her $8 pin to work.
Burress was asked to leave her job last Wednesday because she refused to remove a pin that supported the living wage campaign, a campaign to raise the minimum wage of all University and contracted employees.
Morrison Management Services officials, Burress' direct employers, claimed the pin violated the company's uniform policy.
Citing her First Amendment right to free speech, Burress refused to go back to work until the company allowed her to wear the pin.
Beginning immediately, employees of the University Health System will be permitted to wear the $8 pins if they choose, English said.
"Morrison Management Specialists will modify its policy to replicate that of the Health System," he said. "This is a fair and consistent approach that will avoid confusion among our employees."
The Labor Action Group, an organization made up of University workers, students and faculty, supported Burress in her attempt to change the University's policy. The group, which originally planned a protest rally today at noon, now will use the rally as a victory celebration of Burress' reinstatement.
"This is a great victory for all University workers," said Nelson Lichtenstein, history professor and LAG member. "They have the right to speak freely and speak out regarding all conditions of employment. Shelly Burress is a hero because she stood up for her rights. Now it is time for all University of Virginia employees to do so."
The purpose of the rally not only is to celebrate a great victory but also to banish fear among University employees who are too afraid to speak out against the injustices that they face in the work place, Lichenstein said.
Burress will be speaking at the rally about standing up for one's beliefs.
"If you don't take that first initial step, no one can take it for you," Burress said. "I am really happy about the outcome, but I feel that Mr. English owes me an apology."
LAG members are hopeful that Burress' protest will encourage other workers to wear the $8 living wage pins, said Ben Lee, a graduate College student and LAG member.
Leonard W. Sandridge, executive vice president and chief operations officer, said the University cannot raise wages to $8 an hour because "we do not have the authority to change the salaries of employees. That is a statewide issue, so the group would have to appeal to the state."
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