Dear George,

On February 6, the University's Labor Action Group held an event at Newcomb Hall to announce the launching of the Staff Union at UVA (SUUVA) and its affiliation with the Communications Workers of America (CWA).

Your web page showed a photo of Alexandria Searls and me at that event, and you asked each of us to comment upon why we felt it was important to be there.

In a related development, *questions have recently appeared on your website about what types of issues are legitimate and relevant to city council campaigns. Since city councilors have little or no influence over matters involving state and national laws, are these outside the scope of questions that should be asked of council candidates?

To my mind, the answer to both questions is the same: Anything that significantly affects the quality of life of some citizens in the greater Charlottesville community affects us all, and is legitimately within the scope of council representation of its constituents. Working to effect change in such matters is, in my opinion, a legitimate council activity.

If abortion laws affect the ability of women in Charlottesville to have access to safe, legal reproductive health services, then council should be concerned and vocal in its opinions about such laws. If expanding Virginia's Hate Crimes Legislation to include sexual minorities will justly punish or prevent a single act of discrimination against a citizen of Charlottesville, then it is a legitimate subject for council activism. If Medicare policies affect the health and well being of seniors, the disabled, children, or low-income residents of Charlottesville, then they are legitimately within the council's scope.

When I first began to attend rallies and give speeches in support of UVA's Living Wage campaign, people questioned why I would want to get involved in the University's business. I responded that Charlottesville is home to many of UVA's lowest paid workers. Living within our borders are over 2300 children whose family incomes fall below Federal Poverty Guidelines. With only 20% of the region's population, Charlottesville houses over 50% of the region's poor. The presence of a large population of working poor puts pressures on city services that serve the needs of this population. The ability of UVA workers to earn a living wage affects the council's ability to provide a high quality of life for all.

Mr. Brooks Sunkett, CWA Vice President for Public, Healthcare & Education Workers, speaking at the UVA event, made another connection between the goals of SUUVA-CWA and the well being of the general Charlottesville community:

"UVa is a dominant employer here. The incomes that are earned by University employees have a major influence on the level of demand for goods and services in Charlottesville. In economics, there is a principle called the "Multiplier Effect," wherein each dollar spent circulates to generate a multiple of 2 to 4 dollars in new demand for goods and services.

"What this means is that our campaign in SUUVA-CWA to raise staff employees' wages to decent levels they deserve will have a long and positive effect in supporting and growing businesses in the Charlottesville community. It will create jobs there and raise family incomes, not just at UVa, but also throughout the community that sustains this University."

I was at the UVA event, cheering on the employees and faculty at UVA who have formed this union, because I felt it was my role as a city councilor to represent the interest of the greater Charlottesville community in the success of their alliance with CWA. Not only will UVA's employees be the beneficiaries, but these benefits will also multiply and be shared by city families, city taxpayers, city businesses, city government, and city service agencies. We all gain from the gains of UVA workers.

Thank you.

Meredith Richards (electronic mail, February 17, 2002)

*See Letters by Lloyd Snook ( 1 & 2 & 3 ), Letters by Waldo Jaquith and by Bern Ewert , reference in Letter by Joan Fenton , Letter by Michael Smith , Letter by Helena Cobban , Letter by Blake Caravati , and a Letter by Alexandria Searls .