nova: chapter one

Mayola Pons quietly weeped after finding out that both her and husband, Armando, lost their jobs. The maintenance service employees at Nova Southeastern University, a private university in Davie, successfully unionized last year despite the administration's resistance. On President's Day, shortly after their company's contract with the school expired, many showed up to work to learn they were suddenly jobless. The union and the workers believe this had much to do with the campaign. Michael Mayo, a columnist for the Sun-Sentinel, has been following their story in his column. My partner-in-crime, Kique, has also been writing about it for El Sentinel. My photos ran in both publications. I felt fulfilled covering this story.

They sent me out to the campus where workers were finding out whether or not they had jobs. The overwhelming majority of the workers are Haitian and Hispanic immigrants. Fritz and his wife both showed up to the Physical Plant building to learn that after ten years, they were now unemployed. He was my willing guide into the building.

The hallways inside swelled with conversation in Creole as people stood in line near where they punched in everyday to see if the university would re-hire them. Many were sent away with little explanations and business cards referring them to other contractors.

On a corner just outside of campus, SEIC union teamsters were waiting to take statements from fired employees and to provide counseling and hope that continuing to fight would yield results.