September 26, 2006
Harvard Janitor Fired for Fainting.
On Friday, September 22, Harvard students rallied in support of a Harvard janitor who was fired after his supervisor found him conked out on the job. Here is the gist of the situation, lifted from an MIT list thread:
HARVARD JANITOR FIRED FOR FAINTING!
Saintely Paul has been working at Harvard University for 6 ½ years. On June 27, 2006, Saintely Paul was feeling ill so he sat down on the couch on the 11th floor of William James Hall. As soon as he sat down he fainted.
HARVARD IS LYING!
On July 3, 2006, Facilities Maintenance Operations (FMO) fired Saintely Paul, claiming that he was sleeping on the job. This is not true! Mr. Paul had also fainted the previous week yet Harvard refuses to believe him despite his years of dedication to the university and spotless record.
Shouldn’t Harvard make an effort to support an employee with a medical condition instead of firing him?
RALLY TO DEMAND JUSTICE!
Join with workers and community members to demand that Harvard give Saintely Paul his job back!
If you attended the rally, or you were just a passerby, like me, and wondered what happened with Mr. Paul, here is some good news…The Cambridge City Council passed a resolution in support of Mr. Paul, calling on Harvard to rehire Paul and compensate him for lost wages and medical insurance. You can read more at the Harvard Crimson.
There hasn’t been a peep out of Harvard about all this…
And those students sure look all rallied up, don’t they? ; )
Garden variety North American Nomad. Born in the Midwest; lived and worked on the West Coast and abroad; studied in the South. Recently spotted putting down roots in New England.